HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Top-seeded Roger Federer lost to Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) Saturday in the semifinals of the German Tennis Championships.
Federer is a 17-time Grand Slam champion and four-time winner in Hamburg. But he was outplayed by the 114th-ranked lefthander who advanced to his first career final. Federer took a wild card for the clay-court Hamburg tournament after losing in the second round at Wimbledon.
Delbonis will play Fabio Fognini of Italy, who moved within one win of his second title in two weeks when he beat third-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-4, 7-6 (1).
Fognini won his first career title in Stuttgart last week and is riding a nine-match winning streak.