HALLE: Defending Wimbledon champion Roger Federer made a seamless transition from clay to grass on Wednesday as he cruised into the quarterfinals of the ATP Halle Open after brushing aside German wildcard Cedrik-Marcel Stebbe 6-3, 6-3.
Federer, who is using the tournament as a tune-up for the defence of his title at the All England Club later this month, needed just 67 minutes to see off Stebbe in what was the Swiss star's first outing since losing to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight at Roland Garros.
Federer, a five-time winner at the ATP event in Germany but without a title to his name this season, came out firing immediately with a break of serve in the opening game as he raced 5-1 ahead, only to squander a chance to close it out before breaking Stebbe for a third time to take the set.
A service break in the second game of the second set then proved decisive as Federer sealed his passage into the quarters, where he'll face another German in World No.156 Mischa Zverev, who beat Bosnia's Mirza Basic 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 earlier on Wednesday.
Earlier, fourth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan was stunned by Russian veteran Mikhail Youznhy 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in the second round.
Youzhny, 30, will face one of German pair Philipp Kohlschreiber, the sixth seed, or Tobias Kamke in the next round.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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