• Gerry Weber Open

Nadal suffers shock defeat to Kohlschreiber

Rafael Nadal was well below bar against Philipp Kohlschreiber © Getty Images

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Rafael Nadal's 13-match winning streak came to an end at the hands of home favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Gerry Weber Open in Germany.

Nadal, coming into the tournament off the back of a record seventh French Open crown, struggled to get his second serve firing and an inspired Kohlschreiber took full advantage to seal a first ever win over the Spanish star.

Kohlschreiber had a point to prove entering the contest - the head-to-head with Nadal read 8-0 in the world No. 2's favour - and he needed no second invitation to capitalise on a sluggish performance from his more decorated opponent to progress to the semi-finals 6-3 6-4.

After earning his first singles win in Halle since his previous showing seven years ago when he crashed in the first round, Nadal was expected to push on and lay down a marker ahead of Wimbledon. However, with his second delivery failing him, the Spaniard surrendered two breaks of serve en route to defeat - the fifth time in six occasions he has fallen in the quarter-finals of a Wimbledon warm-up event.

"I said it was going to be tough," Nadal said. "He plays well on this court. You just have to congratulate him. He played very aggressively, served well, returned well. He played better than me. I was suffering when he was serving. I didn't have that energy to change the situation."

With Wimbledon starting on June 25, Nadal says he will return home to Mallorca to recuperate ahead of the third grand slam of the year.

"I can't practice on grass there but it's better not to practice for a few days," he said. "It's time to rest with my family, friends, to relax. I've played almost every match possible since Indian Wells. When I'm ready to come back, I'll go to Wimbledon."

Second seed Roger Federer survived a huge scare before showing his grass-court pedigree to overcome a determined Milos Raonic 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3). The six-time Wimbledon champion won more points than his opponent in the first set but it was Raonic who took the honours via a tie-break. The second set was equally as competitive, though Federer somehow forced an opening to break and send the match into a decider.

Neither player could unlock the door in the third set - there were zero break points as both men's serve held firm - but it was Federer who raised his game when it mattered most to stay on course for a sixth Halle title.

Next up for the Swiss maestro is Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, who came through a tough encounter with Radek Stepanek. Youzhny, who picked up his eighth ATP World Tour title in Zagreb in February, needed two-and-a-half hours before winning through 6-4 4-6 6-4.

Wildcard Tommy Haas caused a shock by beating third seed Tomas Berdych. The two former Halle champions, who have not played one another in almost six years, slugged it out for more than two hours but it was Haas who converted more of his break points to set up a last-four showdown with defending champion Kohlschreiber.

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