Federer beats Mayer to set up semifinal with Thiem

The Swiss 17-times grand slam champion resumed leading 4-3 in the opening set after rain curtailed play at the Mercedes Cup the previous day and he eventually prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Tennis legend Roger Federer has, narrowly, got off to a winning start on his return from injury – taking a three-set encounter at the Stuttgart Open. He saved a set point to force the second tiebreaker, and fired a powerful forehand to clinch the match.

The Artful Roger would be able to get a late break and is serving for the match — and seals victory with a blistering cross-court backhand victor.

Mayer had the ultimate chance to take the match into a third set, having 3 break points, but Roger stayed focused and saved all of them, mainly thanks to good serves and he sent the set into a tie break, where he was the clear favorite now.

Federer’s win sees him draw level with Ivan Lendl on 1,071 wins in the Open era. Federer finished off that set, but Fritz battled back by breaking serve at 6-5 in the second.

The two players then showed off some stunning serving as they both held easily, barely giving up a single opportunity as the match moved towards an inevitable second tie-break.

The former world No. 1 led by a break in the first set before the heavens opened up and forced the match from Wednesday to Thursday.

World No 3 Federer advances to face Florian Mayer in the quarter finals, as he looks to get matches under his belt ahead of his bid for an eighth singles title at Wimbledon.

“I can win on clay, that is my surface and I feel very confident against nearly all players”, he said. The match was short but I felt good.

World number seven Thiem said he has achieved more this week on grass than he had imagined.

Juan Martin del Potro, champion in 2008, came from a set down to win 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-0 against fourth seed Gilles Simon and the Argentinian will play Philipp Kohlschreiber in the other semi-final after the seventh seed beat qualifier Radek Stepanek in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.