HALLE (Saale), Germany: Roger Federer reached the Halle grass-court final for the 10th time after beating giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4) in Saturday’s semifinals.

The Swiss, who has won the title seven times, will go on to face Italy’s Andreas Seppi, who advanced at the expense of Kei Nishikori after the Japanese world No.5 retired injured when trailing 4-1 in the first set.

World No.2 and top seed Federer needed two tie-breaks to claim a 13th win in 14 meetings with Karlovic.

The Croat, who stands 2.11m (6ft 11in) tall, had battered down 45 aces in his quarter-final victory against Czech Tomas Berdych on Friday but against Federer he managed a mere 21.

“It is always difficult to play against Ivo but the important thing was that I remained calm,” Federer said.

“I was very lucky in the first set and so I’m all the more delighted to be in the final again.”

Federer is chasing a 15th title on grass as he warms up for Wimbledon, which begins on June 29.

Seppi, the world number 45 who last won a title in 2012, was in control of the first set of his match against Nishikori when the Japanese succumbed to an apparent calf problem.

He won his quarterfinal against Gael Monfils on Friday when the Frenchman retired injured in the second set after crashing into an advertising board beside the court.

Federer has only lost once in 12 previous meetings with Seppi, although that came in the third round of this year’s Australian Open.

“I played him many times. For some time, we also practiced quite often. I think he hits the ball very well on both sides, especially cross court and then he can go down the line,” said Federer of the Italian.

“I think that’s what makes him a tough player. I think fitness-wise he’s very fit, you know, he won’t go away.

“He doesn’t have the best second serve but I think he has improved that over time. And because he hits the ball quite flat it actually helps him on the grass.”

Anderson in Queen’s final

Kevin Anderson made the final at Queen’s Club by beating Gilles Simon of France 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 on Saturday.

The unseeded South African struck his 34th ace to seal victory, bringing his total of aces in the tournament to 96.

Anderson will appear in his second final of the year on Sunday after winning his 12th career title in Marseille in February.

Just one break of serve decided the opening set as Anderson took a 5-3 lead, and he had the opportunity to further his advantage early in the second set when he held four break points to lead 1-0.

The seventh-seeded Simon fought off the challenge but still found his back against the wall when Anderson served for the match in the tiebreaker at 5-4, and held a match point at 6-5.

Although Simon won the next three points to level the set score, Anderson made the next vital break at 4-3 in the third set, and closed it on his third match point.

Rain hampers Murray

Andy Murray’s bid to reach a fourth Queen’s Club final was hampered by heavy rain that forced his last four clash with Viktor Troicki to be suspended in the first set on Saturday.

With the score level at 3-3, Murray had just secured a break point following a fall from Troicki that left the Serb clutching his left shoulder in pain.

Troicki called for a medical timeout but before play could resume the rain started to fall, sending the players scurrying back to the locker room.

They returned soon after when the drizzle relented, but before a ball was struck heavier rain began to fall and the sky turned increasingly black, prompting a delay of over an hour.

With little improvement in the weather forecast for Saturday, three-time Queen’s champion Murray could face the prospect of playing the rest of his semifinal and then the final in a hectic Sunday schedule.