Roger Federer moved to within one match of finally winning the French Open when he came from behind to defeat giant Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro in Friday's semi-finals.
Roger Federer moved to within one match of finally winning the French Open when he came from behind to defeat giant Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro in Friday's semi-finals.
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The second seed, who has lost the last three finals here to Rafael Nadal, took everything Del Potro could fling at him and then pounced when the South American wilted to win a cliff-hanger 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
In tomorrow's final he will take on Swedish surprise Robin Soderling who sent top seed Nadal crashing out in a fourth round shocker.
Soderling, seeded 23, had earlier reached the championship match with a battling 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 semi-final win over Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.
It was the second five-setter for Federer in the tournament having battled back from two sets to love down against Tommy Haas in the fourth round.
"That's one more step and I am so happy to have comeback like that," he said.
"For a moment there Juan Martin was playing so well, but I had some luck on my side and I fought hard.
"Soderling played a great match against Gonzalez to be in the final. He deserves to be there because he also beat Nadal and he was the man to beat in this tournament."
Del Potro had dropped just the one set en route to the last four while Federer had dropped four, but with the world No.2 having won all five of their previous matches in straight sets he was the big favourite.
The win put the Swiss star into his 19th Grand Slam final, equalling the record of Ivan Lendl.
A 14th Grand Slam title win here on Sunday would put Federer level with Pete Sampras and lend weight to the argument that he is the greatest player of all time.
He has won his nine previous matches against Soderling dropping just a single set in the process.
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