Federer Fights Off Ebden to Extend Grass-Court Streak to 19
Top seed and defending champion Roger Federer and to break back twice in the second set to overcome a 5-3 deficit to beat Australia’s Matthew Ebden 7-6(2), 7-5 to reach the final four at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.
“I’m happy I played good when I had to, end of the second, end of the first as well,” Federer said after the match. “I think that comes with playing a lot of matches now. It was tricky. I think Ebden played a good match and I’m happy I got through somehow.”
Federer, who is going for his 10th trophy at Halle, is just three victories away from equaling Jimmy Connors’ record on 174 wins on grass. Federer has 18 grass-court titles, including 8 Wimbledon crowns.
The 36-year-old Swiss meets American qualifier Denis Kudla next. Kudla who has not lost a set all week, beat Yuichi Sugita 6-2, 7-5.
In the bottom half of the draw, fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut beat Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3.
The Spaniard will next play Croatian Borna Coric, who beat Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-5, 6-3.
