By Chris Oddo | Thursday, June 12, 2014

Roger Federer overcame a slippery start to race past Portugal’s Joao Sousa at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-2, on Thursday.

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Bidding for his seventh title in Halle, the defending champion failed to convert on his first eight break points of the match—five in the first set and three in the second—before finally breaking through in the seventh game of the second set.

"I struggled a bit on return during a set and half," said Federer. "Afterwards, it was better, more variation on second serve.”

The 32-year-old would end up converting three of his final four break opportunities, including three in the decider to race to victory in one hour and fifty minutes.

The trouble securing breaks didn’t have any ill effect on Federer’s serve. The seven-time Wimbledon champion didn’t face a break point until the third set, and he saved both that he faced. He hammered 11 aces and made 82 percent of first serves.

"It was slightly frustrating, but important to stay calm,” Federer said. “Maybe I got more confidence winning this way than 6-4, 6-4.”

Federer improves his record at Halle to 44-5. He has won a title on grass in nine of the last eleven seasons, and owns 13 on the surface overall.

The Swiss improved to 123-18 lifetime on grass. His .872 winning percentage on the surface is best in the Open Era.

Federer will face Yen-Hsun Lu in the quarterfinals.