Tennis: Federer Fends Off Rugged Rochus

Roger Federer came within a point of losing his four-year unbeaten record on grass at the Halle International yesterday, surviving two match points before edging past Belgium's Olivier Rochus 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 to reach the semi-finals.

The world No1, who has not lost on grass since his defeat against Mario Ancic in the first round of Wimbledon in 2002, was given a real fright in the second-set tie-break. Rochus, one of the shortest players on the ATP Tour, twice came within a point of chalking up a memorable win after taking the first-set tie-break 7-2. But Federer fended off the danger and went on to win the tie-break 11-9 on his third set point to level the match.

Rochus refused to wilt under pressure and went 4-2 up in the third but Federer finally found his form, winning the deciding tie-break 7-5 and keeping alive his hopes of a fourth successive title in Halle.

The result left the three-time Wimbledon champion just two matches away from equalling Bjorn Borg's record of 41 consecutive wins on grass.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray has said he will not play doubles at this year's Wimbledon championships, claiming it would be too taxing.

"At Wimbledon, doubles is best-of-five sets unlike all the other grand slams, so if you've just played a 4½-hour singles match, you don't really want to go and play doubles afterwards," said the 19-year-old, who has been playing with France's Sébastien Grosjean.

"With Sébastien it's just if we lose we lose, if we win we win. We try our best and have fun. That's something I have to try to get into my singles as well."