Roger Federer saved a match point before overcoming Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (11/9), 7-6 (7/2) in the Halle quarter-finals on Friday to move two matches away from equalling Bjorn Borg's all-time winning grasscourt record.
But the Swiss world number one, now unbeaten on his favourite surface for almost four years, looked far from convincing as he notched up his 39th consecutive grass court win, two off Bjorn Borg's Open Era record of 41. Federer's last defeat on grass came against Mario Ancic in the Wimbledon first round in 2002. Since that time, Federer had collected three Wimbledon titles as well winning the tournament here three years in succession.
But he struggled on Friday to subdue the gritty, pint-sized Belgian who had a match point in the second set tie-break and led 4-2 in the third. Federer had struggled all week here beating Indian qualifier Rohan Bopanna 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in the first round before battling over three sets to defeat France's Richard Gasquet 7-6 (9/7), 6-7 (7/9), 6-4.
He had also come into the tournament here on the back of a heartbreaking French Open final defeat to Rafael Nadal at the weekend which ended his hopes of becoming the first man since 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.
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