Federer blasts his way to Halle semis

Four-time winner Roger Federer outclassed Germany's Mischa Zverev 6-0, 6-0 on Friday to book his place in the semi-finals of the Halle Open.

The world number three will play the winner of the quarter-final match between Germany's Tommy Haas, who beat him in last year's final, and France's Gael Monfils.

The 31-year-old Federer wrapped up the first set in just 20 minutes then concluded the second -- and the match -- 39 minutes later against the world number 156.

The "double bagel" whitewash is the second of Federer's career. His first was inflicted on Argentina's Gaston Gaudio in the semi-final of the Shanghai indoor tournament on November 14, 2005.

In Halle, the Swiss was even more efficient than in his opening 6-3, 6-3 victory over another German qualifier, world number 166 Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, in 67 minutes.

Federer, who has won a record 17 Grand Slams, is still out to win his first trophy of the season and now has 41 wins and just five defeats on the grass at Halle.

France's Richard Gasquet, the world number nine, went through to the semi-final with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory over German world number 33 Florian Mayer.

Gasquet will meet the winner of the match between Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber and Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

The Frenchman's victory was revenge after Mayer beat him in the Wimbledon quarter-final last year.

He won the first set with ease in 34 minutes but was forced to a tie-break in the second, eventually winning out with an ace.

His advance to the last four is the fourth time this year he has made a semi-final. He was beaten by Andy Murray in Madrid but won the other two on the way to titles in Doha and Montpellier.