But he quickly fell behind in the second as Zverev, a finalist previous year, who has already won three titles in 2017, charged to a 4-2 lead and held on to take the set.
Federer was very appreciative of the young man's tennis, and rightly so.
Federer fended it off accelerating through passing lanes.
Top seed Roger Federer will challenge for a ninth Halle Open title after reaching the final of the Wimbledon warm-up event with a 6-4 7-6 victory over rising Russian talent Karen Khachanov on Saturday.
Gasquet, a two-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, grabbed the first set against Zverev with a break at 5-4.
But he quickly fell behind in the second as Zverev, a finalist previous year, who has already won three titles in 2017, charged to a 4-2 lead and held on to take the set.
Host Russia exits Confederations Cup after loss to Mexico
Mexico on the other hand fought hard in an intense game to beat New Zealand after going behind in the first half. That's the first difference. "I was not there in past tournaments ".
Empowered by his run to the Stuttgart semifinals and a career-high rank of No. 29, Zverev did not back off.
But the 18-time grand slam victor finally prevailed a game later with a forehand victor on his fourth match point.
He admitted, ahead of this first meeting with 21-year-old Karen Khachanov, that he knew little of his game, having practised with him only once.
Federer has yet to drop a set after three matches this week.
Two sounds that amplify an in-form Federer are his feet dancing across the lawn and the eruption of his forehand drive detonating off his strings.
Safarova had to save match points for the second time this week, trailing 5-3 in the final set before beating Daria Gavrilova 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (5). However, at 3-3, Federer was in a spot of bother on his serve. Zverev responded with a love hold to level after six games. The eight-time champion converted the break point, breaking Zverev's serve for the first time in the match with a forehand victor down the line. In fairness, Zverev's margin of error is slim: If his serve doesn't hit his mark, right at the body, then he's just sent a softball right into Federer's strike zone, one he barely needs to move to crush.
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