Roger Federer defeated Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-6(4) while Colombian world No. 69 Alejandro Falla upset Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach the final of the Halle Open tennis tournament on Saturday.
It will be the second career ATP final for Falla after losing to Ivo Karlovic of Croatia last year in Bogota in only his second appearance at Halle after losing to Federer in the 2010 first round.
Kohlschreiber, the world No. 27 and the 2011 champion, was feeling the effects of his quarterfinal clash on Friday when he was taken to three sets by compatriot Dustin Brown before prevailing 18-16 in the third set tie-breaker.
Dimitrov upsets Wawrinka At London, fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov upset top-seeded Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the Queen’s Club grass court tournament.
Dimitrov took a 3-2 lead on his fourth break point when Wawrinka double-faulted before breaking again for 5-2. Wawrinka held two break points in the next game but was unable to prevent Dimitrov serving out the set.
Ivanovic nears ‘dream’ At Birmingham, Ana Ivanovic reached the first grass court final of her career on Saturday at the Birmingham Open. The 26-year-old former world No. 1 from Serbia did that with a thumping 6-2, 6-2 win over Zhang Shuai, a steadily improving Chinese player contesting her first Premier level event in only her second grass court tournament. She will meet Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, who got the better of Casey Dellacqua 7-6(5), 6-1.
The results (semifinals): At Halle (Gerry Weber Open): Alejandro Falla bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4; Roger Federer bt Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-6(4).
At London (ATP Aegon Classic): Grigor Dimitrov bt Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4.
At Birmingham (WTA Aegon Classic): Ana Ivanovic bt Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-2; Barbora Zahlavova Strycova bt Casey Dellacqua 7-6(5), 6-1.
