World No. 1
Roger Federer was tested yet again on grass Saturday in the semifinals at the ATP stop in Halle, his third consecutive three-set win in dispatching of former No. 2-ranked German
Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 to gain the final at the Gerry Weber Open.
"It's quite exceptional I think," said Federer, appearing in his 15th consecutive tournament final dating to his semifinal loss to
Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open. "I told my girlfriend, my manager, coach and everybody that after I made the finals in Paris, I only have finals and wins to defend. That's kind of tough, but I'm happy I keep that streak up."
In the final the Swiss, whose grasscourt streak is now at 40 consecutive matches, one shy of Bjorn Borg's record, will face No. 5
Tomas Berdych who eased past No. 8
Kristof Vliegen 6-3, 6-2.
Federer has beaten the Czech in their last two meetings on clay, but lost in their first encounter on hardcourts at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
