Djokovic takes easy win into semifinals

HALLE, Germany, June 12 (UPI) -- World No. 4 Novak Djokovic won nine of the first 11 games Friday and cruised into the semifinals of the $1 million Gerry Weber Open in Germany.

The grass-court tournament is a key tuneup ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begin June 22.

Djokovic, seeded second at the Gerry Weber Open, had little trouble in his 6-1, 6-4 win over seventh-seeded Jurgen Melzer. He lost just 14 points in nine service games and didn't lose his serve until deep into the second set.

His semifinal opponent Saturday will be Olivier Rochus, who rallied for a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3 win over Benjamin Becker. Rochus didn't face a break point in the match.

Last year's Gerry Weber runner-up Philipp Kohlschreiber again made it to the semifinals, beating Andreas Beck 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Tommy Haas took the fourth spot for Saturday, advancing 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 over Mischa Zverev.

Djokovic is 0-2 lifetime against Rochus, but the two haven't met since 2005. Kohlschreiber and Haas have met only once in their career -- in the round of 16 in last year's Halle tournament with Kohlschreiber taking a tight three-set win.