Roger Federer has lived to fight another day at the Gerry Weber Open after surviving a massive scare in the first round.
The Swiss world number two needed three sets to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber in Halle, although that does not tell the full story of the match.
Top seed Federer eventually won 7-6 3-6 7-6 as he needed two tie-breaks while he was also 5-3 down at one point in the deciding set in Germnay.
“I first thought that I wasn’t in luck today,” said Federer. “But of course now I’m really happy that I made it through and I can go for another title.
“It would have been really bitter to have to fly back home today.”
Federer is bidding to win the title on Halle for the eighth time and is also looking for a record eighth Wimbledon crown later in the summer.
The 33-year-old is 6.50 to win the championship at SW19 this year as he looks for his first title in the English capital since 2012.
Reigning champion Novak Djokovic is the current 2.20 favourite, with Andy Murray, who was victorious at Wimbledon two years ago, available at 4.00.
Murray continues his build up for the next Grand Slam event at the Aegon Championships against Taiwanese qualifier Yen-hsun Lu in the first round on Tuesday, with Fernando Verdasco awaiting the winner in the second round at Queen’s Club.
Murray is 1.04 to beat Lu (9.50), who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals five years ago.
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