Federer holds nerve to reach French Open final
Roger Federer beats Juan Martin del Potro in French Open semi-final
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Friday, 05, Jun 2009 10:30
Roger Federer is into the final of the French Open after battling to a dramatic five-set victory over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro at Roland Garros.
The Swiss star looked down and out after being outplayed for the majority of the opening three sets.
But Federer dug in against the South American clay-courter before mounting a stirring comeback to register a remarkable 3-6 7-6 2-6 6-1 6-4 victory.
The world number two now faces the conqueror of his greatest rival Rafael Nadal in the showpiece match on Sunday - Sweden's Robin Soderling.
A win for the US Open champion would make him only the fourth player ever to claim all four grand slam titles in his career.
And the 12-time grand slam winner will feel this could finally be his year after once again snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
The 27-year-old made a nightmare start when he was broken in game five.
He saved three break points in his next service game, but was broken again in game nine when he netted with a forehand while trailing 0-40.
Both players comfortably held their serve to force a tie-break, which in contrast was a one-sided affair. Federer dominated to race into a 6-1 lead before clinching his second set point to level.
But despite his inexperience, Del Potro hit back in the third set with a break in game. The Argentine squandered two break points in Federer's next service game but redeemed himself with a double break in game seven to seal the set.
The ding-dong battle continued in the fourth set with Del Potro saving a break point in the second game. But Federer took his chance to break in game four after his opponent sent a forehand long.
Del Potro began to tire and he doubled-faulted to lose his serve again, with the Swiss star then serving out the set to force a decider.
In a nail-biting deciding set, both players wasted chances to break. But Federer made the breakthrough in game seven to capitalise on Del Potro's failure to get his first serve in.
After saving four break points, Del Potro double-faulted to hand the three-time French Open runner-up the initiative.
And he held his nerve to serve out the match and clinch victory after nearly three-and-a-half hours on court.