Four further quarterfinal spots were filled on day four at the 2016 Gerry Weber Open, with Roger Federer starring by defeating Malek Jaziri to set up a meeting with David Goffin. Earlier in the day Philipp Kohlschreiber overcame the stern test of Ivo Karlovic, whilst Dominic Thiem completed the day’s action by comfortably overcoming Teymuraz Gabashvili.                                         

Federer continues his journey to a ninth title in Halle

Federer continues his quest for a ninth success in the German city (Photo: Getty Images/Carmen Jaspersen)
Federer continues his quest for a ninth success in the German city (Photo: Getty Images/Carmen Jaspersen)

Federer defeated Jaziri 6-3, 7-5 to progress to yet another last eight showdown in Halle. The eight-time champion won in just over an hour, breaking three times to earn a second win over the Tunisian.

It was Jaziri who created the first break opportunity, failing to convert in the third game after applying early pressure. The next few games were dominated on serve, despite Jaziri averaging under 40 percent on his first serve. This statistic eventually took it’s toll, as he was unable to prevent Federer converting his second break point in the eighth game and later lost the set in the following game.

The world number three was serving impressively in the opening set, but surrendered the first break of the following one to find himself trailing 3-0. He was struggling to force any openings on return but picked his serve back up to keep himself within one break of equalling the set up. His hard work paid off, and he broke back for 4-4 before securing another to avoid a second tie-breaker of his tournament thus far. At 30-30 when serving the victory out, Federer found himself trailing 0-30, but won the next four points, converting his first match point to ensure he has reached at least the last eight during every appearance in Halle.

Kohlschreiber edges past big-serving Ivo Karlovic

Kohlschreiber celebrates a tight victory (Photo: Getty Images/Carmen Jaspersen)
Kohlschreiber celebrates a tight victory (Photo: Getty Images/Carmen Jaspersen)

In the opening match of day four, Kohlschreiber edged out Karlovic, with the German man completing victory in just over two hours.

The match was dominated on serve, and a lack of break opportunities as it took until the tenth game for either player to bring up a break point. It was the big-Croat who was forced to save the point, and did so to lead the pair into an expected tie-breaker. When Kohlschreiber secured a mini-break on his first return, it looked to be vital, with his serve only being threatened once past 30 in the regulation first set. He continued to dominate the breaker, leading 6-3 and holding three set points. Out of nowhere he was threatened on serve, as Karlovic saved three set points before going on to steal the tie-breaker 9-7.

During the second set, Karlovic upped his first serve percentage to 78, but was still the player who was troubled when serving after he saved a break point in the fifth game. He later played a poor service game, which handed the German the first break of the match after netting a routine volley at 15-40 down. Kohlschreiber held to level the match up, continuing his momentum by narrowly missing out on a second break of serve in the match during the opening game of the deciding set. The eighth-seed missed out on another six games later but set up a second meeting with Thiem in five days after winning the decider 7-5, with a break of serve at 5-5 after a long game.

Other day four results

Kohlschreiber and Thiem’s quarterfinal meeting will be the pair’s third meeting of the year, with each holding a win in the two final showdowns. The Austrian set up the clash by cruising by Gabashvili 6-4, 6-1, with two breaks of serve in each set. The final last eight place was filled by Goffin, who benefitted from Sergiy Stakhovsky’s retirement in the third set of their entertaining clash. The Belgian had led 4-6, 7-5, 2-0 when the match was ended.

The doubles event sees all four seeds fighting for the title, joining the Bryan brothers who had secured their spot the previous day. In the pick of the matches, second seeds Lukasz Kubot and Alexander Peya defeated Brian Baker and Denis Istomin in a champions tie-breaker 11-9.

Day five preview

Thiem and Kohlschreiber met in the delayed Stuttgart final on Monday (Photo: Getty Images/Deniz Calagan)
Thiem and Kohlschreiber met in the delayed Stuttgart final on Monday (Photo: Getty Images/Deniz Calagan)

All four singles quarterfinal ties are scheduled to be played on Stadion on day five in Halle, with Marcos Baghdatis and Alexander Zverev facing off in the opening match. The ‘match of the day’ is Federer versus Goffin, which is followed by Kohlschreiber and Thiem’s most recent meeting after clashing in the final of Stuttgart earlier this week. Another German Florian Mayer faces Andreas Seppi in the final last eight battle.

The first doubles semifinal is due to take place in the only match on court one. The Bryan brothers meet Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram at 2:30pm local-time.

Day five order of play

Stadion – 12:00pm

Marcos Baghdatis - Alexander Zverev

(1)Roger Federer - David Goffin (5)

(8) Philipp Kohlschreiber - Dominic Thiem (3)

NOT BEFORE 5:30pm

Andreas Seppi - Florian Mayer

Court One – 2:30pm

(1)Bryan / Bryan - Raven Klaasen / Rajeev Ram (3)

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About the author
James Froud
Recent graduate with a strong interest in sports journalism. Huge sports fan, with strong passions in Football, Rugby and Tennis.