HALLE (Germany): Newly-crowned French Open champion Rafael Nadal and five-time champion Roger Federer both enjoyed comfortable opening wins to their grasscourt season at Halle on Thursday.
Nadal defeated Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko 7-5, 6-1 in the second round while Federer also cruised into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Germany’s Florian Mayer.
Spanish world number two Nadal, playing at the German venue for the first time since 2005, will tackle German eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarter-finals.
Kohlschreiber, the defending champion, made the last eight with a 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3 win over Poland’s Lukasz Kubot.
Nadal, who captured a record seventh Roland Garros title on Monday, has won all his eight career meetings with the German.
“In the second set, I served better, the forehand had more control, I played more aggressive. I’m happy to be through,” said Nadal.
“I haven’t played here for a long time. As I said, every hour I spend on the court works for me on the grass because I haven’t had a lot of time to adapt. Tomorrow is a big challenge because Philipp is the defending champion. “He’s a very complete player. He does everything well.”
World number three Federer will tackle Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic on Friday for a place in the semifinals of this Wimbledon tune-up event.Federer, who missed last year’s tournament, needed just 74 minutes to see off Mayer. (Agencies)