The tournament had a great Friday which saw one of the two favourites falling short to make it to the semi-finals. The defending champion, Kohlschreiber, straight setted the 2010 Wimbledon champion to book a semi-final meeting with 2009 Halle champion, Haas. Haas made it to the semi-finals upsetting world no.7 Berdych in the quarter-finals. Federer, once again managed to dodge the missiles fired by Raonic, to make it to the 8th consecutive Halle semi-final. Youzhny, went down to the wire with Stepanek, to book his 13th meeting with Federer. Let us have an in-sight into the semi-finals:
(2) Federer vs Youzhny
It will be a re-match of the pair's 4th encounter back in 2003 in the semi-finals of Halle. Youzhny won the first set, but Federer won the next 2 sets to take the match 4-6 76(4) 62.This is pair's 13th meeting, starting from 2000, where the pair first met at Stockholm, Youzhny won the first set but Federer bounced back to take the match in 3 sets. Since that meeting the pair has met 11 times (Technically 12 times, but Youzhny withdrew from the pair's match at Rotterdam this year in the Round of 16), with Youzhny taking only 2 sets off Federer. However both the sets were taken off on grass courts. The first being at the semi-finals of Halle back in 2003 and the other being on the lawns of Wimbledon in the fourth round last year.
3 of the pair's 4 meetings on grass have come at this very tournament in Halle. Will it be the 13th time lucky for Youzhny or will Federer continue his dominance over Youzhny? Federer is coming off a 3 set win over Raonic and must be feeling confident of his chances, while Youzhny is coming off a 3 sets win over Stepanek. Federer has not been broken during his run to the semi-finals, and he faced only one break point. Youzhny on the other hand has been broken 4 times. If Federer can keep his serve, it will be his match.
Pick:Federer in 2 sets
(8) Kohlschreiber vs (WC) Haas
This match pits former Halle champions against each other, Kohlschreiber, defending champion and 2008 finalist vs Haas, the 2009 champion. Interestingly both of their previous meetings have come on the grass courts of Halle and both have gone the distance.Kohlschreiber won in the 3rd set tie break 2008 during his run to the final of Halle (75 57 76(5)). Haas, however extracted revenge, the very next year when they met in the SF of Halle, winning 26 76(5) 76(3) during his run to the title of Halle.
Kohlschreiber made it to the semi-finals after defeating Nadal, 2010 Wimbledon champion, in straight sets in the QF and did so by winning 90% of his first serve points and saving all the 3 break points he faced. The confidence boost must be high. Haas on the other other hand made good work of Berdych, 2010 Wimbledon finalist. Kohlschreiber has yet to loose his serve while Haas was broken once during his QF victory over Berdych. Given the current form of both players, it must be a mouth watering match. It will come down to serves and nerves, whoever looses his serve and nerve will go down. It is a tough call but given Kohlschreiber is the fitter player and Haas has turned 34 and is coming over a 3 sets victory, he must be tired and feeling the effects of it. I would love to see Haas pulling it off, but I think Kohlschreiber has an edge.
Pick: Kohlschreiber in 3 sets
Who do you think has better chance at making it to the final? While thinking, enjoy the highlights of Federer's win over Raonic in quarter-finals of Halle.
(2) Federer vs Youzhny
| Description | Federer | Youzhny |
| Match Record this year | 36-5 | 16-8 |
| H2H | 12 | 0 |
| H2H on grass | 4 | 0 |
| YTD Titles | 4 | 1 |
It will be a re-match of the pair's 4th encounter back in 2003 in the semi-finals of Halle. Youzhny won the first set, but Federer won the next 2 sets to take the match 4-6 76(4) 62.This is pair's 13th meeting, starting from 2000, where the pair first met at Stockholm, Youzhny won the first set but Federer bounced back to take the match in 3 sets. Since that meeting the pair has met 11 times (Technically 12 times, but Youzhny withdrew from the pair's match at Rotterdam this year in the Round of 16), with Youzhny taking only 2 sets off Federer. However both the sets were taken off on grass courts. The first being at the semi-finals of Halle back in 2003 and the other being on the lawns of Wimbledon in the fourth round last year.
3 of the pair's 4 meetings on grass have come at this very tournament in Halle. Will it be the 13th time lucky for Youzhny or will Federer continue his dominance over Youzhny? Federer is coming off a 3 set win over Raonic and must be feeling confident of his chances, while Youzhny is coming off a 3 sets win over Stepanek. Federer has not been broken during his run to the semi-finals, and he faced only one break point. Youzhny on the other hand has been broken 4 times. If Federer can keep his serve, it will be his match.
Pick:Federer in 2 sets
(8) Kohlschreiber vs (WC) Haas
| Description | Haas | Kohlschreiber |
| Match Record this year | 9-6 | 22-12 |
| H2H | 1 | 1 |
| H2H on grass | 1 | 1 |
| YTD Titles | 0 | 1 |
This match pits former Halle champions against each other, Kohlschreiber, defending champion and 2008 finalist vs Haas, the 2009 champion. Interestingly both of their previous meetings have come on the grass courts of Halle and both have gone the distance.Kohlschreiber won in the 3rd set tie break 2008 during his run to the final of Halle (75 57 76(5)). Haas, however extracted revenge, the very next year when they met in the SF of Halle, winning 26 76(5) 76(3) during his run to the title of Halle.
Kohlschreiber made it to the semi-finals after defeating Nadal, 2010 Wimbledon champion, in straight sets in the QF and did so by winning 90% of his first serve points and saving all the 3 break points he faced. The confidence boost must be high. Haas on the other other hand made good work of Berdych, 2010 Wimbledon finalist. Kohlschreiber has yet to loose his serve while Haas was broken once during his QF victory over Berdych. Given the current form of both players, it must be a mouth watering match. It will come down to serves and nerves, whoever looses his serve and nerve will go down. It is a tough call but given Kohlschreiber is the fitter player and Haas has turned 34 and is coming over a 3 sets victory, he must be tired and feeling the effects of it. I would love to see Haas pulling it off, but I think Kohlschreiber has an edge.
Pick: Kohlschreiber in 3 sets
Who do you think has better chance at making it to the final? While thinking, enjoy the highlights of Federer's win over Raonic in quarter-finals of Halle.
*The video is not my property. It can be found on you-tube.
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