Federer sharpens grass game, makes Halle quarters

HALLE, Germany -- Two-time defending champion Roger Federer beat Florian Mayer 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday to ease into the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open.

Germany's Mayer, who reached the quarterfinals last year on his Wimbledon debut, was twice a break up in the second set but both times dropped his own service in the next game.

Federer is warming up for his attempt at a third straight Wimbledon title. He won the Gerry Weber Open -- a $800,000 grasscourt event -- the past two years.

"I think he's in good form, he played very well in the first set, but in the second he showed that he's vulnerable," Mayer said.

Mayer was up 4-3 in the second set when he committed two double faults to give the top-seeded Swiss star the chance to break back.

"Two breaks, that should be enough on grass to win the set," Mayer said. "But one game was a gift from me, two double faults. Those were my only double faults but they came at a bad time."

The German hit two forehand errors to give Federer one match point. Mayer saved it with a service winner, but then hit a wild overhead smash to give Federer another match point.

Mayer hit another forehand into the net to end the match after 58 minutes.

Although the Halle event is considered a top warmup for Wimbledon, Federer is the only player to have captured both events in the same year.

"I hope to do it again," he said. "Every new day on grass is better for me. I think I've made a good transition from clay to grass."

Federer already has six titles this year and a 48-3 record -- his last loss was in last week's French Open semifinals to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

But the Swiss failed to win either of the first two Grand Slam events of the year -- the Australian and French Opens.

"I take losses a lot easier now, because there are so few of them. I can deal with them," Federer said. "I have more confidence, I am more secure in my game. Even when I was down a break twice today I felt secure.

Federer, who next plays Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, finished with nine errors to Mayer's 22.

In another second-round match, fourth-seeded Guillermo Canas defeated Nenad Zimonjic 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), and Juan Carlos Ferrero edged Alexander Waske 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-9), 6-3.

Waske, who eliminated French Open champion Rafael Nadal in the first round, lost despite serving 21 aces. Rainer Schuettler also reached the quarterfinals, beating Dick Norman 6-3, 6-3.

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