Roger Federer stepped up his grass game as the start of Wimbledon looms, holding off Australian Matthew Ebden 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 in their quarter-final at the ATP Halle tournament on Friday.
With his world number one ranking on the line, the Swiss is sparing no effort to make sure he lifts a tenth title at the event on Sunday.
He will next play US qualifier Denis Kudla who beat Yuichi Sugita 6-2, 7-5.
1⃣9⃣ match wins in a row on grass for @rogerfederer ?
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) June 22, 2018
The ?? was made to work for the second day in a row, but he beats Matthew Ebden 7-6(2), 7-5 @GERRYWEBERWORLD as he continues pursuing ? No. 10 in Halle.
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The victory was the 19th in a row on grass for the 36-year-old Federer, who last lost on his favourite surface in an opening match in Stuttgart a year ago, although the 20-time Grand Slam champion atoned last weekend, winning that tournament for the first time.
The other semi-final will pit Roberto Bautista Agut against Borna Coric.
Fourth seed Bautista Agut defeated Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 while Croatian Coric eliminated Italy's Andreas Seppi 7-5, 6-3.
? Roger Federer AKA the Brick Wall ?
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) June 22, 2018
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Failure by Federer to win the grasscourt title would send rival Rafael Nadal back to the top spot going into Wimbledon which starts on July 2.
"I felt I had to push myself today," Federer said. "It didn't come as easy as it did in other matches.
"But you can't allow that to be frustrating. I can take away a lot of positives.
18. Straight. On ?@rogerfederer saves 2 match points to defeat Benoit Paire 6-3 3-6 7-6(7) at #GerryWeberOpen
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 21, 2018
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"Now that I'm in the semi-finals I can see the light at the end of the tunnel -- you either lose in the semis or have two more matches, max. That allows me to find extra energy."
"I'm happy I played well when I had to," Federer said. "I'm happy I got through somehow."
The first set on Friday was decided in a tiebreaker while the Swiss had to twice recover from a break down in the second to secure a tight victory in 88 minutes.
.@rogerfederer closes in on title number 10, @DjokerNole chalks up win number 800... https://t.co/oCbb0jhest
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) June 22, 2018
Federer set up match point with a flicked backhand pass and then sealed his semi-final place as Ebden returned long.
Ebden did not make it easy for Federer, staying with the Swiss into the first-set tiebreaker.
The Aussie double-faulted to hand over four set points but one was enough as Federer hit a backhand service return winner.
