Top-seed Rafael Nadal overcame stiff resistance from Bernard Tomic to reach the semi-finals of the Mercedes Cup with a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 victory on Friday.
Nadal will next play No 4 seed Gael Monfils, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
The tournament is a grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon and Nadal said he was pleased with his game. After needing two hours and 40 minutes to beat Marcos Baghdatis on Thursday, Nadal was stretched again a day later, staying on court for two hours and 20 minutes.
But Nadal said he played “better than yesterday” and against an opponent who is very comfortable on the fast surface.
Nadal seized the early momentum in the third set by taking a 3-0 lead to finish off Tomic, the No 5 seed.
“I’m feeling strong and I’m motivated, I hope to have a good second half of the season,” Nadal said. “I had a great first set and in the second he played well. My game was at a good level, I’m happy with how I handled things.”
Frenchman Monfils fired 17 aces in his victory over Kohlschreiber, which left Germany with just one title contender at the Stuttgart Open.
Monfils, seeded fourth and a former runner-up at the Weissenhof club when the event was played on clay, reached the final four on the new grass surface as the event made a total date and surface change to become part of the lead-up to Wimbledon.
The defeat of Kohlschreiber, who played the 2013 final, leaves Mischa Zverev as the last home hope. He will aim for a place in the semis against the No 2 seed, US Open winner Marin Cilic.
The last time a German lifted the trophy was 1991, when Michael Stich defeated Alberto Mancini.
Monfils struck for his 10th win over Kohlschreiber against just two losses – the German won their grass-court semi-final in Halle in 2011 and also put out Monfils on the Stuttgart clay in 2013.
Monfils took 44 minutes to claim the opening set before his opponent levelled in the second.
The Frenchman got off to an early break of serve in the third to ensure victory after just under two hours on court in temperatures of 30° Celsius.
“I had some good luck today, I tried to play aggressive on returns and stick to a simple game plan,” said the winner, who concedes that he will never put grass at the top of his favourite surface list.
“I know the grass now but I came here knowing that I had to work. Playing on this surface is never easy for me.
“My main goal is to keep from getting injured and try to do my best. If I can win some matches, that’s even better.
“I’d like to win more matches on grass, but even that won’t help me to like it, actually.”
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