Summary Roger Federer breezed into Halle Open quarter-finals with 6-3, 7-5 win over Ernests Gulbis.
HALLE (AFP) - Roger Federer kept his chances of an eighth title at Halle on track when he overpowered Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 7-5 on Wednesday to breeze into the quarter-finals.
The 33-year-old, 17-time Grand Slam winner was pushed to three sets in the previous round by German hope Philipp Kohlschreiber but had fewer problems with Gulbis.
He will now meet Germany s Florian Mayer who defeated American Steve Johnson 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
Defending champion Federer has reached the final of the last nine editions of the grasscourt Wimbledon tune-up, winning seven.
The iconic Swiss right-hander took advantage of one of his two break opportunites to snatch the first set and never looked back as he broke at 6-5 in the second to set up a winning chance.
He closed out the match in style as he improved his record for the season to 30 wins against six defeats just days after losing a Roland Garros quarter-final against eventual champion and compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka.
Federer has won 85 tournaments in a glittering career including three this season at Brisbane, Dubai and Istanbul.
