Eight-time champion Roger Federer defeated Germany's Mischa Zverev 7-6 (4), 6-4 to book his quarterfinal place at the Gerry Weber Open Thursday. Federer, who is bidding for his 16th grass-court title, hit five aces and converted three of his four break opportunities to win the second-round match in an hour and a half. He did not face a break point. The 35-year-old Swiss next plays defending champion Florian Mayer, another German, who upset the sixth-seeded Lucas Pouille 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3. Third-seeded Kei Nishikori was forced to retire earlier with an injury during his match against Karen Khachanov. The Japanese player was trailing 3-2 when he withdrew with a left hip problem. Khachanov will next face Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals. Rublev, who received a wild-card for the grass-court tournament, defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. Cilic, Querrey advance The unheralded Australians who blew open the draw at Queen's with first-round wins over Andy Murray and Milos Raonic came back down to earth Thursday. Jordan Thompson, a last-minute injury replacement in the field, and Thanasi Kokkinakis, ranked No. 698, both lost in the second round but will take home lasting memories from the Wimbledon warm-up. Thompson, ranked No. 90, failed to follow up his huge upset of the top-ranked Murray in straight sets Tuesday, losing to American player Sam Querrey 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3. Kokkinakis, who dispatched Raonic — last year's runner-up at Wimbledon and Queen's ‘ also in straight sets, was beaten by Daniil Medvedev of Russia 6-2, 6-2. Normality resumed Thursday, with the underdogs falling short on another sunny day at the west London venue where David Beckham was among the spectators. Fourth-seeded Marin Cilic avoided becoming the latest high-profile player to depart early by beating Stefan Kozlov 6-0, 6-4 and will play another American, Donald Young, in the last eight. Cilic, the 2012 champion, is the leading player left following the exits of Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Raonic, the top three seeded players. Fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also out. Giorgi upsets Svitolina Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi pulled off a surprise three-set win over number two seed Elina Svitolina Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Aegon Classic. Giorgi won six of the last seven games as she triumphed 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 over the Ukrainian. The 25-year-old will face Australian Ashleigh Barty in the last eight at the Edgbaston Priory Club. Spain's Garbine Muguruza also moved into the quarterfinals, enjoying a 6-1, 6-4 win over American Alison Riske. Halep accepts wild card for key Wimbledon warm-up event French Open finalist Simona Halep will make it eight out of the women's world top 10 appearing at the Wimbledon warm-up, the International, after accepting a wild card invitation Thursday. The 25-year-old Romanian — ranked second in the world and beaten by the unseeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko in the French Open final — joins world No. 1 Angelique Kerber and No. 3 Karolina Pliskova at the tournament in Eastbourne, southern England. — Agencies
