Roger Federer trumped Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 to win a record eighth title at the ATP Halle tournament on Sunday. The title was the 33-year-old's fourth of the season after Brisbane, Dubai and Istanbul, and 86th of his career.

With a week before the start of Wimbledon, the world number two's 15th career title on grass comes at the perfect time, but the victory was far from plain-sailing for the Swiss star. Three times he had to save a break point in the opening set, which was briefly interrupted by rain, twice doing so with aces before sealing the first courtesy of a Seppi double fault. Federer could have wrapped up the second set a game earlier but missed three break opportunities when leading 4-3. However, two games later he did break the Italian to claim victory in just under two hours.

Federer's only defeats in Halle finals came against Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in 2010 and German Tommy Haas two years later. He will be hoping to keep his form running when he starts the chase for his eighth Wimbledon time in eight days time.

jh/rc (AP, AFP)