Roger Federer beats Andreas Seppi to win eighth Halle title

Roger Federer's victory took his tally of titles to 86.

World number two Roger Federer beat Italy's Andreas Seppi to win the Gerry Weber Open for a record eighth time.

The Swiss, 33, won 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 in his 10th appearance in the final of the ATP Tour event in Halle, Germany.

It was Federer's fourth title of the year after victories in Istanbul, Dubai and Brisbane, taking his career haul to 86.

Federer said: "It is a special moment for me to win this tournament an eighth time."

The win on grass comes ahead of Wimbledon on 29 June, when Federer will launch his bid for an eighth title at the All England Club.

Federer said that "2013 was difficult, 2014 was better and now 2015 after this week is even better and I hope I can keep it up".

The Swiss top seed saved two set points on his serve when he trailed 5-4 in the first set against Seppi, 31. He dug deep to level for 5-5 before easing through tiebreak, losing only one point, to take the first set.

Federer then squandered three break points at 4-3 in the second set but went on to earn two match points and finished off the contest with a spectacular overhead smash.