Federer reaches final in Germany

Roger Federer will bid for a record eighth Gerry Weber Open title when he plays Italy’s Andreas Seppi after advancing Saturday to his 10th final.

Federer defeated big-serving Ivo Karlovic, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), while Seppi won the other semifinal in Halle, Germany, after second-seeded Kei Nishikori pulled out because of a left calf injury while trailing, 4-1. Seppi also had a short quarterfinal Friday when fourth-seeded Gael Monfils pulled out with a right knee injury as the 45th-ranked Italian led, 6-1,1-0.

Top-seeded Andy Murray’s bid to reach the final at Queen’s Club in London ended in frustration when his semifinal against Serbia’s Viktor Troicki was suspended in the first set because of rain.

Troicki fought off five break points at 3-3, and Murray earned a sixth when his opponent fell and injured his left shoulder on the grass court as he netted the ball. The 25th-ranked Troicki received treatment but rain prevented further points being played. The match will resume Sunday morning.

Awaiting the winner in Sunday’s final is unseeded South African Kevin Anderson, who beat

Gilles Simon of France, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic reached her first grass-court final when she beat

Kristina Mladenovic of France, 6-2, 7-6 (6), in the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, England. Angelique

Kerber won the other semifinal against German compatriot Sabine Lisicki, the former Wimbledon finalist, 6-3, 6-3.