JOIN USTop seed Roger Federer reached the Halle Open semifinals on Friday, beating defending champion Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-4 and edging closer to a ninth title at the Wimbledon tune-up event.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion will now face rapidly rising talent Karen Khachanov, who won his all-Russian quarterfinal against Andrey Rublev 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-3 to reach his first tour semifinal of the year.
Frenchman Richard Gasquet also reached the last four, edging past Dutchman Robin Haase, who had eliminated second seed Dominic Thiem in the previous round, 6-1 3-6 6-1.
Gasquet will now play the winner of the last quarterfinal between local favourite Alexander Zverev and Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut later on Friday.
Kvitova through
In the Aegon Classic, Czech Petra Kvitova moved into the semifinals with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over France's Kristina Mladenovic on Friday.
The seventh seed, twice Wimbledon champion, is playing in her second tournament after a lengthy layoff with a hand injury, suffered during a knife attack at her home in December.
"Both of us play really fast on this surface, the grass suits her game as well, so it was about a few points here in three, one or two key breaks in the match," Kvitova said.
Safarova came through a marathon battle with Australian Daria Gavrilova, triumphing 6-7(4) 6-3 7-6(5).
Safarova saved three match-points in the deciding set and rallied to win the last four points of the third set tiebreak to end the three-hour contest on top.
Muller in last four
Luxembourg left-hander Gilles Muller continued scything his way through the grasscourt season when he beat former champion Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-6 (5) to reach the semis at the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club on Friday.
Next in Muller's firing line will be fourth seed Marin Cilic, who beat American Donald Young 6-4, 7-5.