By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, June 24, 2017

Generation Next came roaring at Roger Federer today.

Federer applied his variety and court creativity to pass a power test.

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The top-seeded Federer denied two set points in the second set subduing explosive Karen Khachanov, 6-4, 7-6 (5), in the Halle semifinals.

Federer raised his 2017 record to 23-2 advancing to his fourth final in six tournaments this season.

Facing an opponent who was not yet five-years-old when Federer made his Halle debut 17 years ago, the Swiss advanced to his 11th Gerry Weber Open final.

It wasn’t pristine tennis and there were pressure points—Khachanov had a good look at a mid-court forehand on his first set point at 6-5, but smothered the shot into net—but Federer, who failed to serve out the match at 5-4, displaced the big hitter on pivotal points.



Continuing his quest for a ninth Halle title, Federer will face either 30th-ranked Richard Gasquet or fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, who defeated the Swiss in the 2016 semifinal, in tomorrow’s final.

Contesting his 13th-straight Halle semifinal, the 35-year-old Swiss took some time to find his footing and range against an opponent 14 years his junior.

The pair traded breaks to open the match.

Starting the third game with a swinging forehand volley winner, Federer began pressuring the Russian’s forehand, which is a powerful but elaborate stroke that requires time to generate. Zipping a low forehand in the corner, Federer coaxed a netted forehand reply breaking for the second time in a row for 3-1.



The eight-time champion quickly confirmed the break at 15 for 4-1.

It wasn’t exactly a pristine set for Federer, who hit a double fault to fall into a love-30 hole in the sixth game. Finding his first serve, Federer reeled off four consecutive points crunching a diagonal forehand winner to hold for 4-2.

Relax more as the set wore on, Khachanov cruised through a two-ace love hold for 4-5.

The power player pounded a return right down the middle rattling out an error for break point in the 10th game. Federer rocketed an ace wide to save it, eventually closing the set when Khachanov missed a backhand down the line.

Dipping a slice backhand, Federer elicited an error for love-30 in the ninth game. Khachanov is at his best banging the ball from the baseline, but he’s not nearly as comfortable in the front court.

Exploiting his opponent’s uncertain front-court skills, Federer drew Khachanov forward made him play a volley and drew a netted error for break points. Khachanov misfired again as the top seed gained the lone break of the second set for 5-4.

Serving for the match at 30-15, Federer was two points from closure.

The 21-year-old Russian wasn’t done yet. Khachanov hammered a return that forced Federer into an unsteady backhand off his backfoot for break point. Federer again drew his opponent forward but narrowly missed a forehand down the line as Khachanov broke back to level.

Erasing a break point with a twisting serve down the middle, Khachanov navigated a tricky game that included a hellacious bad bounce with three successive stinging first serves for 6-5.

Trying to locate the lines, Federer missed a backhand down the line to face set point. Khachanov was up quickly to the mid-court forehand, but tightened and flat-lined the shot into net. Testing the big man’s forehand return again, Federer coaxed an error dodging a second set point. A smooth forehand drop shot forced the tie break.

Federer, who had won 10 of 15 tie breaks this season, immediately earned the mini break. Applying his expansive reach in menacing fashion, Khachanov ripped a forehand to regain the mini break.

It's an unsettling experience playing the grip-and-rip baseliner because he's willing to go big and bold under any circumstances. Khachanov went down swinging.

Lacing a backhand down the line for 5-4, the world No. 38 lined up his two-hander, but dragged it wide crosscourt.

It was a costly miss.

Instead of another set point, Khachanov found himself facing a charging Federer.

Attacking to elicit another error, Federer earned match point.

The eight-time champion closed when Khachanov sailed a backhand.