Roger Federer beats Florian Mayer in Stuttgart last-eight; moves closer to Jimmy Connors' record career match wins

New Delhi: World No. 3 Roger Federer on Friday produced a steely performance to beat Florian Mayer 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/1) to reach the Stuttgart grass semi-finals.

In the process, the Swiss maestro moved closer to Jimmy Connors' record career match wins (1,256). Federer's 1072nd win helped him moved above another legend Ivan Lendl, in the second spot behind the American.

It was also Federer's seventh win over Germany`s Mayer without a loss.

In the last-four, Federer plays Dominic Thiem, who defeated Russian Mikhail Youzhny 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Federer lost to the Austrian upstart in Paris a month ago.

Federer is playing for the first time after dealing with the back pain which forced him to skip the French Open.

In the other semi-final, Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro will play and German seventh seed Philipp Kohlschreiber. Del Potro came from one set down to beat French fourth seed Gilles Simon 6(3)-7, 6-3, 6-0; while Kohlschreiber got the better of veteran Czech qualifier Radek Stepanek in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.