Federer through to Halle final

Roger Federer is through to the final in Halle for the 10th time after beating giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), in Saturday's semi-final.

The Swiss, who has won the title seven times, will go on to face the winner of the second semi-final between Japan's world number five Kei Nishikori and Italy's Andreas Seppi.

World number two and top seed Federer needed two tie-breaks to claim a 13th win in 14 meetings with Karlovic.

The Croat, who stands 2.11m (6ft 11in) tall, had battered down 45 aces in his quarter-final victory against Czech Tomas Berdych on Friday but against Federer he managed a mere 21.

"It is always difficult to play against Ivo but the important thing was that I remained calm," Federer said.

"I was very lucky in the first set and so I'm all the more delighted to be in the final again."

Federer is chasing a 15th title on grass as he warms up for Wimbledon, which begins on June 29.

He beat Nishikori in the semi-finals in Halle a year ago while he has only lost once in 12 previous meetings with Seppi, although that came in the third round of this year's Australian Open.
Source: AFP