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Federer Escapes From Del Potro in Dubai Semis


By Erik Gudris
 Photo Credit: Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty Images


(March 2nd, 2012) Juan Martin Del Potro appears to be closing in on the elite of men's tennis, but he couldn't quite close out Roger Federer when it mattered during their thrilling semifinal meeting at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

In an encounter that saw both men use all parts of the court, it was two eerily similar tiebreaks that decided the contest between the former world No. 1 and the 2009 U.S. Open champion who is now back into the top 10 after a long climb back from a wrist injury suffered at the start of 2010.

After both men held serve in comfortable fashion for most of the first set, a slight stumble from Del Potro as he tried to retrieve a Federer forehand while serving at 5-6, 15-30 appeared to discombobulate the tall Argentine just enough that it allowed Federer a break point and a set point opportunity at 30-40. Del Potro saved the set point and another against him with a smash winner to set up a tiebreak, but it was Federer who raced out to a 6-2 lead in the breaker and appeared ready to close out the set.

Del Potro recovered thanks to a forehand miss from Federer and a winning volley from the Argentine but Federer finished off the set in style with a crosscourt forehand winner.

Federer, after going up a quick 0-40 on Del Potro's service game at 1-all in the second set, looked ready to make it a short evening. But Del Potro held for 2-1 and continued to stay with Federer as each man eased through their remaining service games.

Despite Federer looking the more likely to close out the match in the second tiebreak of the evening, a rash of casual looking errors from the Swiss Maestro suddenly gave Del Potro what appeared to be an insurmountable 5-0 lead. Down 6-2, now it was Federer's turn to try and close the gap on Del Potro which he did forcing Del Potro to try and serve out the set at 6-5.

But an errant forehand from Del Potro leveled the breaker at 6-all. A thrilling backcourt rally from both men ended with Del Potro netting a backhand giving Federer his first match point. With a vocal crowd urging Federer on, the former Dubai champion reached the finals once again with a 7-6, 7-6 victory after Del Potro went long on a forehand.

Federer will now face Andy Murray in the finals marking their first meeting since London in 2010 with Murray holding a lifetime 8-6 advantage.

 

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