Roger Federer has reached the semi-finals of the Gerry Weber Open. In Halle Westfalen, the eight-time tournament winner beat the Australian Matthew Ebden is two sets.
At the beginning of the game, it didn’t look like a walk for Gerry Weber-Open-King Federer. Ebden, who surprisingly reached the quarter-finals, started confidently and did not give himself any nudity with his own service.
But even “FedEx” on the other side was not asked twice and followed with solid serve and volley play and smooth service games. The world number one seemed less prone to mistakes than the preliminary round match against the Frenchman Benoit Paire and enraptured the spectators with sensational points.
Ebden, on the other hand, convinced with a simple and fast game. Federer earned his first chances for a break at 4-4 and the underdog had to go over Einstand several times, but managed to break out of the predicament.
Without a break, the first set consequently entered the tiebreak, in which Federer in particular increased his level once again. With great returns he put pressure on his opponent and won the first set 7:2 in the tiebreak with a cracking backhand return winner.
After Federer had to fend off two match points against Paire, the performance against Ebden was almost flawless. Only the exploitation of opportunities left much to be desired for the Swiss. In the first service game in set two, Federer had two break balls, both of which he could not use.
As is so common in sport, the missed opportunities should take their revenge. Ebden was not deterred by a small discussion between Federer and the chair referee and shortly afterwards saw two break points for himself on the scoreboard. The Australian proved unyielding and forced the “Maestro” into a 25-stroke rally, which he finally used to take the 2-1 lead due to a mistake made by the Swiss.
The man’s reaction with the mission “Halle-Titel Nummer 10” was not long in coming and Federer grabbed the immediate re-break for 2:2 compensation.
With increasing playing time the balance of power on the court turned. It was Matthew Ebden who set the pace and played Federer partly skilfully and cleverly. The result was a deserved break for the 4:3 lead.
Federer seemed partly annoyed. Less of the game, other things next to the pitch seemed to go against the grain for the 36-year-old.
However, the Australian’s lead did not last long and Federer took back the break with four outstanding winners and prevented the set equalisation. The following service game of 65 seconds underpinned Federer’s ambitions in two sets to make the semi-finals perfect.
Ebden seemed to quarrel with himself and stumbled at the wrong moment. “FedEx” took his chance and put pressure on his opponent. A break with perfect timing for his final 7:6 (2) and 7:5 victory makes Federer continue to dream of his tenth title in Halle.
For the world’s number one, it was the 19th consecutive victory on grass.