HALLE, Germany (AFP) - World number one Roger Federer picked up his 58th consecutive win on grass to breeze into Sunday's final of the Halle ATP tournament by seeing off Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 6-1, 6-4 in Saturday's semi-final.
Federer has yet to drop a single set here at Halle, his traditional grass-court warm-up for Wimbledon later this month where he will bid to win a sixth consecutive title.
In Saturday's one-sided semi-final, Federer took the first set 6-1 in just 22 minutes until Kiefer rallied briefly in the second at 3-2 up, but squandered four break points.
Federer levelled the set at 3-3, before breaking Kiefer for a 5-4 lead and serving for the match Federer used his first match point to claim victory in just 65 minutes.
"I served well today and I could go through Nicolas' second serve - that helped me a lot, especially in the first set," said the Swiss.
He is looking to win his fifth Halle final on Sunday where he will face Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber who put out American second seed James Blake 6-3, 7-5.
"I was hitting some good shots although Kiefer had some nice ones from the baseline," said Federer. "I am happy to be in another final."
With his arch-rival and world number two Rafael Nadal in action at the Queens' club tournament, Federer said he is paying little attention to the Spaniard's transition from clay to grass.
"I don't really follow what he is doing," said Federer.
"I don't know what has to happen before you guys (the media) understand Nadal is not only the claycourt specialist, but a superb all-rounder, he has been in a Wimbledon final twice.
"I only know that (Andy) Roddick and (Ivo) Karlovic are there, so there are good guys he has to beat.
"However, I am surprised about my good form and the way how I manage to keep calm and not get nervous or under pressure on court."
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Maybe it's because we sort of have an idea on Nadal's flaws. Had he lost an easy match on clay in supposedly good form, people would have doubted him just the same. When it comes to Djokovic, he's still news to us in a strange way. He's so strong that he usually either loses from fatigue or in tight matches against stronger men. What Roger Federer has been through this year, on the other hand, is highly unusual, and I suspect people are afraid of him slowly falling apart. It's not the case. At least I hope so. He's a shining star in tennis and I sure hope to see a lot more of him. First of all, with all due respect to the other good 126 players that'll be in Wimbledon on the 23rd playing it out, I hope for another final between Roger and Rafa, of course. And I wish it be a breathtaking one, too.
i am a huge federer fan. i think everything is riding on wimbledon and if he wins. if he plays the way nadal played at the french then i think people will stop questioning him including myself. i can imagine the enormous pressure federer is under because wimbledon will say it all. i wish roger the best and i hope he kicks some butt at wimbledon. if he is the best on grass than 3 sets should be just as hard to take from him as it is to take 3 sets from nadal on clay. also, why do some many people criticize federer for having a not so stellar season, yet nadal and djokovic never seem to get criticized for any of their results when losing at times? it seems the media enjoys putting federer down. here's to you roger, please, please, get thru wimbledon the way nadal got thru roland garros and shut people up, including myself and the doubts i've had this year towards you.
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