Roger Federer fought through the longest three-set singles match in the Open era yesterday when he beat Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6, 19-17 to reach the Olympic final.
Wimbledon champion Roger Federer was on the brink of a shock defeat on Centre Court after dropping the first set, but the world number one finally subdued Juan Martin Del Potro after a marathon four hours and 26 minutes.
The match, 23 minutes longer than Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s Madrid semi-final in 2009, comes after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took 66 games to beat Milos Raonic in the second round – the most seen in an Olympic three-setter.
The great escape means Federer, 30, is guaranteed at least a silver medal.
In tomorrow’s final, he will face Britain’s Andy Murray who eliminated world number two Novak Djokovic 7-5, 7-5 to the delight of the delirious GB fans in Centre Court.
After a relatively barren two years by his standards, Federer is suddenly enjoying another of his dominant periods and this hard-fought victory showed his hunger for success remains as strong as ever.
Less than a month ago, Federer, a doubles gold-medallist with Stanislas Wawrinka in Beijing four years ago, was crowned Wimbledon champion for a record-equalling seventh time.
Now he is just one win away from completing the ‘golden slam’ of titles in all four majors and the Olympic singles gold.
Del Potro’s 2009 US Open final win over Federer was one of just two victories in 14 meetings with the Swiss, who came from two sets down to beat the 23-year-old in this year’s French Open quarter-finals.
Sharapova through
Russian flag bearer Maria Sharapova reached the women’s singles final with a 6-2 6-3 victory over compatriot Maria Kirilenko yesterday.
The third seed, competing at the Games for the first time, will now hope to emulate Elena Dementieva who won gold in the event for Russia in Beijing four years ago.
Sharapova, wearing a dashing red shirt, was made to fight by Kirilenko in the second set but claimed victory with a volleyed winner on her second match point before blowing kisses to the fans watching on Court One.
She will face Wimbledon champion Serena Williams who crushed Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2 in the other semi.