Zverev stuns Federer in Halle

Halle, Germany: Teenage German Alexander Zverev caused a major shock on Saturday as he beat eight-time winner Roger Federer in the Halle grasscourt semi-finals.

Zverev, 19, triumphed 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-3 to reach only his second ATP Tour final after being beaten by Austria’s Dominic Thiem on clay in Nice, France last month.

The German could yet meet Thiem in the final again this time as the Austrian faces another home player in Florian Mayer in Saturday’s second semi-final. Swiss veteran Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam winner, had won the last three Halle Open tournaments but he met his match in the spirited world number 38.