HAMBURG — In a further sign of his decline, Roger Federer lost to Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) in the semifinals of the German Tennis Championships Saturday. Federer, a four-time champion in Hamburg, was outplayed by the No. 114-ranked left-hander who advanced to his first career final. “He played well, he was a little more aggressive,” Federer said. Federer took a wild card for Hamburg after losing in the second round at Wimbledon. The 31-year-old Swiss ace has dropped to No. 5, his lowest ranking in a decade. Federer lost to No. 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky — a player who failed to qualify for Hamburg — as the defending Wimbledon champion. It was his earliest Grand Slam defeat in 10 years, and his first loss to a player ranked outside the top 100 since 2005. Federer changed his racket after Wimbledon, going for a bigger frame. But he struggled in Hamburg, going to three sets in two of his previous three matches. He needed just under two hours to see off Germany's Florian Mayer in three-sets 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 7-5 Friday to reach the semifinals. 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). Serena in final World No. 1 Serena Williams cruised into the final of the Swedish Open in Bastad Saturday, brushing aside Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic in straight sets. Williams showed little mercy as she swept to a 6-4, 6-0 victory to set up a clash with home player Johanna Larsson in Sunday's final. Larsson, ranked 76th in the world, had earlier dismissed Italy's Flavia Panetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 24-year-old Swedish player will be appearing in the third WTA final of her career, while Serena will be contesting her 69th final. Meusburger-Hlavackova final Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic edged Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-4 to set up a final against Yvonne Meusburger at the Gastein Ladies Saturday. Meusburger reached her second straight WTA final by defeating Karin Knapp of Italy 6-4, 6-3. — Agencies
