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By Adrianna Outlaw
(June 12, 2010) It was like old times in Halle today as long-time foes and and former Wimbledon doubles partners Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt withstood semifinal challenges to advance to the Gerry Weber Open final.
It will be the 25th career meeting between the former World No. 1 players with Federer holding a 17-7 edge in their head-to-head series. Federer has scored 15 consecutive wins over Hewitt, a streak of success that spans seven years.
"We have known each other for years and once played doubles together at Wimbledon. I always looked up to him," Federer said. "It is something special to play against him."
Federer, who is seeking his sixth career Halle title, defeated Germany's Philipp Petzschner, 7-6(3), 6-4, to score his 29th straight win in Halle.
"Philipp was not far away from winning," said Federer, the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 Halle champion. "He played great from the beginning and the first set could have gone either way. I didn't know whether he was already playing his best tennis or whether he could improve further so I was a bit scared."
The 29-year-old Hewitt reached his first final since undergoing hip surgery in January with a 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-2 win over Germany's Benjamin Becker.
"It's fantastic to be in a final again after a hip operation," said Hewitt.