Halle: Federer eases past Falla

 

Originally published on: 11/06/10 10:54

With most eyes on London, Roger Federer eased through to the quarter finals of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle with a comfortable triumph over Alejandro Falla.

After seeing off Jarkko Nieminen 6-4 6-4 in the first round, Federer was even more ruthless against the Colombian, conceding just three games in a 6-1 6-2 triumph over a player he also beat in straight sets at the French Open.

The world number two has now won 27 consecutive matches at the tournament and has lost just one of his last 75 matches on grass – in the 2008 Wimbledon final.

Next up for Federer is the man he beat in the 2008 final: Philipp Kohlschreiber – a 6-4 7-5 winner over Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland.

“On the one hand, I’m looking forward, but on the other hand I also know that he is the player who is the toughest to beat,” admitted Kohlschreiber. “I have not yet succeeded. So, also this time it will be difficult.”

Federer’s pursuit of a sixth Halle title was made somewhat smoother today with the elimination of the second and sixth seeds.

Nikolay Davydenko lost 6-3 6-4 to Benjamin Becker, while Jurgen Melzer was defeated 3-6 7-6 (2) 7-6(3) by local wild card Mischa Zverev.

Becker will next face Zverev in an all-German quarter-final.

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