Federer races through to Halle quarters

[June 17, 2016]  (Reuters) - Roger Federer hurried into the quarter-finals of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle on Thursday, wrapping up a 6-3 7-5 victory over Tunisia's Malek Jaziri in 69 minutes.

The top seed, who has won eight titles at the German grasscourt tournament that has proved ideal preparation for Wimbledon during his long career, quickly overcame a second-set hiccup when he dropped his serve to go 3-0 down.

He rediscovered his rhythm, recovered the deficit and then broke the Tunisian in the 11th game before serving out the match.

Federer next meets Belgian David Goffin, who was leading Sergiy Stakhovsky 4-6 7-5 2-0 when the Ukranian retired hurt after an awkward fall.

"That's life...some days are just not meant to be. I'll try to be back for Wimbledon," Stakhovsky tweeted.

Federer, 34, will be keen to enjoy as much match practice as possible before Wimbledon after pulling out of the French Open last month with a back injury.

He leads 25-year-old fifth seed Goffin 4-0 in their head-to-head tally.

Roger Federer of Switzerland v Alexander Zverev of Germany - Rome, Italy - 11/5/16 Federer serves. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

The Swiss, ranked three in the world, is also joined in the quarter-finals by home favorite and eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, who downed lofty Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-7(7) 6-4 7-5 despite being on the receiving end of 26 aces.

(Reporting by Clare Lovell; Editing by Ian Chadband)

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