Federer, Djokovic Back from the Brink to Set Up Semifinal Clash

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt/ Getty Images

(June 5, 2012) — On a dramatic yet dreary afternoon in Paris, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic clawed their way past a pair of pugilistic predators to set up a rematch of last year's French Open semifinal.

Just like it did Sunday, when Djokovic and Federer each found themselves facing uphill battles against less heralded foes, experience prevailed on the Terre Battue Tuesday, as Federer and Djokovic stayed poised against what appeared to be imminent defeat.

Federer stormed back from two sets down for the seventh time in his career against Juan Martin Del Potro today on Court Suzanne Lenglen, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-0, 6-3. The 16-time Grand Slam champion reversed course dramatically against the Argentine to defeat him for the sixth consecutive time and earn his record-tying 31st Grand Slam semifinal appearance.

For the first two sets, it looked as if the real Roger Federer was never going to show up. The world No. 3 and five-time French Open finalist, in spite of receiving the hearty support of the French Fans, committed 28 unforced errors in the first two sets and looked out of sorts against the 6'6" presence on the other side of the net.

At the same time, Del Potro looked like a man on a mission. He used his deadly ground game to break Federer to take the first set, then edged him in a breaker to claim to the two-love lead.

But from the third set on, Federer was a different player. He would only lose five games while committing 15 more errors the rest of the way.

Meanwhile Del Potro, who had converted on four of seven break point opportunities in the first two sets, failed on all three of his break chances in the final three.

It is unclear just how much Juan Martin Del Potro's injured knee played a part in his demise, or if there was any other issue with health that hampered him down the stretch.

In any case, it was Federer, the sport's all-time leader in Grand Slam titles and victories, that made the necessary adjustments. He turned the match around by keeping more balls in play and making Del Potro earn every point.

Del Potro put forth a respectable effort in the fifth set, but he couldn't seem to mount the energy, aggression or consistency that it would take to contend with a Federer who was now in full flight.

"The road to victory is not a sprint, it's much longer," said Federer afterwards. "It's a marathon."

Federer will face Novak Djokovic in the next stage of the "marathon" on Friday.

Djokovic Guts Out a Thriller to Defeat Tsonga

Just as Federer was wrapping up his quarterfinal on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Novak Djokovic was in a bit of hot water of his own on Court Phillipe Chatrier.

But like Federer, Djokovic called upon his experience to guide him through some very harrowing moments against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to eventually prevail in five sets, 6-1, 5-7, 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-1.

Djokovic stared down the barrel of four match points against an inspired Tsonga in set four — two while serving at 4-5 and another two while serving at 5-6 — and each time he steadied his nerve to play perfect points under pressure.

Much to the chagrin of the frenzied French faithful, Djokovic also overcame a 4-2 deficit in the fourth-set tiebreaker to finally force a decider.

In the final stanza, the fitter, focused Djokovic had the edge over Tsonga, who was still lamenting his fate in the fourth.

The Serb, who has now won 26 consecutive Grand Slam matches, broke early to lead 3-0, then broke again for 5-1 to end all lingering hope for Tsonga and the partisan crowd.

With his hopes of becoming the first player to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time since 1969 still alive, Djokovic breathed a sigh of relief (after letting out a signature blood-curdling scream).

Afterwards, a thoughtful Djokovic tried to describe how he survived the Frenchman's fabulous surge. "Years of experience, I guess," he said. "Just staying composed mentally at those moments and going for the shots."

"At that stage you're not really thinking about if your body is tired or not. Your just trying to hold your nerves — when you have 15,000 people cheering his name — and come up with your big shots."