83 ranking places separated World No. 2 Andy Murray and his 21-year-old compatriot, Kyle Edmund. Yet, when the two met in the quarter-finals of the Aegon Championships at the Queen’s Club in London on Friday, the younger Briton refused to be intimidated by his more illustrious countryman. Being Murray’s frequent practice partner, he knew what to expect and looked quite prepared as he stretched the two-time Grand Slam champion to the distance. He broke the four-time Queen’s winner a total of three times in the entire match before finally succumbing to the 29-year-old, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6.
In the semi-finals, the top seed will square off against the fifth seed and 2012 titlist Marin Cilic. The 2014 US Open champion had to claw his way back from a set down for a 6(3)-7, 6-3, 6-4 win over Steve Johnson of the USA.
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Third seed Milos Raonic, however, had it easy against the sixth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut. The big-serving Canadian thundered 19 aces to dismiss Agut, 6-1, 6-4.
He next meets Bernard Tomic, who came through a tough battle against Gilles Muller. The Australian withstood a barrage of 26 aces to secure the 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-2 win.
Federer vs Zverev in Halle semis in Garry Weber Open
Seeking his ninth title at the Gerry Weber Open, the top-seeded Roger Federer overcame a late challenge from the fifth-seeded David Goffin to win 6-1, 7-6(10) in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The Swiss maestro broke Goffin four times to race through the opening set. In the second set, he needed to work a little harder as he saved five set points and then secured the victory on his fifth match point.
Federer will next be involved in a mouthwatering semi-final clash with the fast-rising Alexander Zverev. The 19-year-old defeated former runner-up Marcos Baghdatis 7-6(9), 6-3 in the last-eight encounter.
Federer and Zverev last met in the second round of the Rome Masters where the 17-time Grand Slam champion had emerged a 6-3, 7-5 winner.
Meanwhile, the in-form Dominic Thiem, who has been on a title-winning spree this season, got a rare rest day as his opponent, Philipp Kohlschreiber withdrew due to a left hip strain. In the last-four stage, the Austrian will take on local hope Florian Mayer. The former World No. 18 beat Andreas Seppi 7-6(4), 6-3 to advance to the semis.
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