Teenager Alexander Zverev caused a major shock as he beat eight-time winner and top seed Roger Federer in the Halle grasscourt semi-finals on Saturday. Error-strewn Federer's vulnerability on his favourite surface could perhaps be explained by a back injury that made the 34-year-old miss last month's French Open, but this was not the build-up to Wimbledon that the Swiss ace wanted.
The 19-year-old Zverev triumphed 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-3 to reach only his second ATP Tour final after being beaten by Dominic Thiem on clay in Nice last month. The tournament will see an all-German final after 192-ranked Florian Mayer crushed world number seven Thiem, 6-3, 6-4, in Saturday's second semi-final. As Zverev bids for his maiden career title, Mayer plays his sixth final and first in nearly five years as he targets a second ATP title after Bucharest in September 2011. "It's unbelievable to get a win against Roger, especially on grass," said Zverev. "I played very good and served well once again. I think that helped me a little bit and I played well in the important moments.