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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:10 a.m., Friday, June 13, 2008

Tennis: Federer defeats Baghdatis in Germany

Assoociated Press

HALLE, Germany — Roger Federer extended his grasscourt streak to 57 matches with a 6-4, 6-4 win today over Marcos Baghdatis and reached the semifinals of the Gerry Weber Open.

Federer, a four-time champion at Halle, won in little more than an hour when Baghdatis netted a serve.

"It was a very solid performance today," Federer said. "Marcos is, in some ways, one of the dark horses for Wimbledon."

Second-seeded James Blake needed eight match points to defeat wild-card Andreas Beck 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). He faces Philipp Kohlschreiber, who edged past Robin Soderling 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Baghdatis lost to Federer in the 2006 Australian Open final, his best run at a major. He reached the semifinals at Wimbledon before losing to Rafael Nadal later that year.

Federer broke Baghdatis' serve in the first game when the Cypriot hit a forehand long under pressure after a long rally. The break in the second set was nearly identical at 3-2.

Baghdatis, a finalist at the Gerry Weber Open last year, rallied and had two breakpoint chances in the next game — the only ones against the top-ranked Swiss so far in the tournament.

"He gave me a few too many points, so I took advantage of that," Federer said. "It's great to be in the semis without losing a set."

Federer remained unbeaten on grass since a first round loss at the 2002 Wimbledon to Croatia's Mario Ancic — a stretch that includes five Wimbledon titles.

The 22-year-old Baghdatis is ranked 23rd after reaching a career-high No. 8 in 2006. He is 10-7 this year because of an ankle injury, which sidelined him for six weeks before he returned at the French Open.

Federer came into Halle after Nadal routed him in the French Open on Sunday.

In another quarterfinal, Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Sweden's Robin Soderling, 6-4, 7-6 (4).