Roger Federer beats Andreas Seppi to win a record eighth Halle Open title

Roger Federer poses with the Gerry Weber Open after a straight sets win over Andreas Seppi

Roger Federer beat Andreas Seppi 7-6 (1), 6-4 to win his eighth title in Halle.

Seppi was looking for his second win over Federer after taking out the 17-time Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open earlier this year. The Italian had two set points leading 5-4 in the opening set, but the Swiss dug deep to level scores at 5-5. The set went to a tie-break which Federer took losing just one point.

Seppi had a break point opportunity in the fifth game of the second set, but missed his backhand allowing Federer take a 3-2 lead. It was Federer who squandered three break point chances in the eighth game allowing Seppi to level at 4-4.

Federer then earned match points in the tenth games, which he duly took with a thumping smash.

"It is a special moment for me to win this tournament an eighth time." Federer said.

“2013 was difficult, 2014 was better and now 2015 after this week is even better and I hope I can keep it up,” he added.

This is Federer’s fourth title of the year after victories in Brisbane, Dubai and Istanbul.