Federer beaten by world No. 114 in Hamburg

HAMBURG: Roger Federer was stunned by Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis, the world No. 114, in the Hamburg claycourt semi-finals Saturday as the 17-time Grand Slam title winner suffered another worrying loss.
The former world number one went down 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/4) to the 22-year-old Delbonis with the defeat coming just a month after Federer was knocked out of Wimbledon by Ukraine’s world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round.
Delbonis will play Fabio Fognini in Sunday’s final after the Italian 12th seed reached his second successive final by beating Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (7/1).
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” said Delbonis.
“My key was to enjoy the match and enjoy playing this kind of player, because he’s the best of all time.”
Saturday’s defeat will put the 31-year-old Federer under more pressure to justify that he can still be a major force in the sport.
He came into Hamburg, where he had triumphed four times, ranked at five in the world — his lowest position since 2003 — after his Wimbledon humiliation brought to an end a run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances.
Debuting a larger racquet frame this week, Federer had twice been pushed to three sets on his way to the semi-finals of the Hamburg claycourt event.
The Swiss squandered an early break lead against Delbonis and saved two set points in the 12th game to force a tie-break.
He was unable to convert his only set point at 6-5 and Delbonis took his fourth opportunity with a smash.
Federer was put under pressure early in the second set by the left-handed Delbonis, saving three break points in his opening service game and another in the sixth.
The Swiss had one chance to break Delbonis in the seventh game as the Argentine’s composure slipped slightly and he let in costly unforced errors.
Federer was denied as Delbonis closed down the net, though, and again came out on the wrong side in the tie-break. Successive groundstroke errors from Federer at 4-4 gave Delbonis two match points and he converted his first as Federer netted a forehand.
Meanwhile, Fognini will be attempting to win his second title in as many weeks after claiming his first tour trophy last week at Stuttgart.

Serena racks up 50th win to reach Sweden final
In Bastad, Sweden, world No. 1 Serena Williams racked up her 50th win of the year on Saturday when she cruised past Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic to reach the Swedish Open final.
Williams showed little mercy as she swept to a 6-4, 6-0 victory to set up a clash with home player Johanna Larsson in Sunday’s final.
Larsson, ranked 76th in the world, had earlier dismissed Italy’s Flavia Panetta, but the world number 103 pushed her all the way before the Swede triumphed 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The 24-year-old Swedish player will be appearing in the third WTA final of her career, having already lost in Bastad in 2011 and in Portoroz the previous year.
French Open winner Williams, meanwhile, will be contesting her 69th final at the age of 31.
“I was hardly making mistakes in the first set. I have to figure out a way to continue that tennis for more than one set, and I’m definitely going to go back and watch the film,” Williams said.
“In the second set she started playing a lot better. She was being more aggressive, and I started making some errors on a few key points. I think that was a turning point. I’m happy I could close it out though.”
Before 2013, the most WTA main draw match wins Williams had at this point of a year was 38 (2003).
Williams, who has 52 WTA titles, beat Larsson in their only previous meeting, in Fed Cup play earlier this year.
“She has nothing to lose and everything to gain, and that’s a great position to be in,” Williams said.