Federer in 2nd round

Seven-time champion Roger Federer survived a nervous first round challenge on Monday before prevailing at the ATP Halle Open 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) over home hope Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The 33-year-old 17-time Grand Slam winner was pushed all the way by the 2011 Halle champion before clinching a second round matchup against either Ernests Gulbis or Sergiy Stakhovsky after just over two hours on centre-court.

Federer has reached the final of the last nine editions of the grasscourt Wimbledon tune-up, winning seven, but was given an almighty scare by the 31-year-old world number 28 who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2012.

Florian Mayer, Alexander Zeverev and Dustin Brown all advanced.

Mayer is now one match away from reaching the Halle quarter-finals for a fifth time.