Federer’s Guaranteed an Olympic Medal After Win Over del Potro
August 3, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Switzerland’s Roger Federer will compete for Olympic gold after his four hour and 25 minute win over eighth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 6-7(5), 19-17—an Open Era record for a best-of-three sets encounter. Del Potro had won the first set on three occasions against Federer in 14 meetings, so it was imperative he started well. But, in windy conditions, on Centre Court, it took each player time to settle. Del Potro saved one break point in the third game and Federer fought back from 0-30 in the sixth game. Federer will face the winner of Friday’s match between Great Britian’s Andy Murray and Serbian Novak Djokovic.
Del Potro’s readiness to step into the court to strike clean winners off the shortest of balls, forced Federer into a change of tactics. The Swiss began to find terrific angles on his cross-court forehand, which launched him into the net. He came close to taking a 2-0 lead in the second set, but didn’t. At 2-2, Federer battled through a 14-point game.
del Potro will compete for the bronze medal on Sunday, facing the loser of the .
