Christophe Ena/Associated Press

John Martin picked up game-by-game coverage in the third set of the men’s semifinal match between Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro. Del Potro, hitting powerful ground strokes that keep Roger Federer off balance, won the first and third sets, mounting a lead, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2. The crowd roared with approval for both players, but at that point there seemed to be an apprehension setting in among Federer fans that he was headed for defeat. Del Potro had broken Federer’s serve four of the 11 chances he has had. It started as a tough day for Federer, who is seeking his first French Open title. The distance seemed to be growing at that point in the match.

Fifth set: Federer wins set and the match

Final score: 3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4

Federer jumps to 30-0 lead on two Del Potro unforced errors into the net. The Argentine smashes a winning cross-court backhand to pull back into the game At 30-15, Federer hits a forehand winner to set up match point. Standing at the line, he bounces the ball several times. Serves to Del Potro’s forehand, then whips the return cross court to win the match, 6-4, in the fifth set. In his quest to complete the career Grand Slam, Federer will face Robin Soderling in the finals on Sunday.

Fifth set: Federer leads, 5-4

Sensing possible defeat, Del Potro took a 40-30 lead on his serve, then double faulted to give Federer a glimpse at victory. It came a point later, when Federer slashed a forehand service return to Del Potro’s feet, set up a match point. But Federer’s backhand sailed wide and it was back to deuce. When Del Potro hit a serve into Federer, the Swiss found himself feebly retjurning into the net, then hitting long. Lost opportunity, but Federer still can serve out the match by winning his serve.

Fifth set: Federer leads, 5-3

With Federer serving, the Argentine began to falter. Driving Del Potro from corner to corner, Federer took a 40-15 lead, then tried an untimely drop shot. Del Potro roared in from the baseline and pushed the ball past Federer down the ling. Finally, Federer forced Del Potro to it long. Federer leads, 5-3

Fifth set: Federer breaks and leads, 4-3

Federer struck early, weaving forcing shots and crosscourt running shots to lead Del Potro to 0-40. Del Potro struck back forcing Federer to hit a backhand into the net. Then, serving at 30-40, the Argentine unleashed a slashing crosscourt forehand into the corner. Federer could only stare at it. But Federer returned deep and Del Potro timidly slapped it into the net, giving the Swiss another break point Del Potro doubled faulted to lose the game and trail, 4-3. Federer serves next.



Fifth set: tied at 3-3

Federer fell behind on his serve, 15-40, the last point on a top-spin lob that Del Potro lofted over his head. Then, charging and leaping with a backhand to the ad court, Del Potro forced Federer to hit limply into the net and took the game.

Fifth set: Federer leads, 3-2

Del Potro’s serve appears to be breaking down. Punching his first serves wide, the Argentine found himself at 30-30. Then, Federer faltered, netting a backand service return, giving Del Potro a game point. Then in a long rally, Federer forced his way to net with an approach shot that appeared to be going long until Del Potrol unwisely hit it in the air. Federer punched the volley away to pull up to a break pint.

But he couldn’t hold it and Del Potro stormed the net two points later and punched a backhand volley down the line. Federer merely watched it bounce in and beyond him. The score: Federer 3, Del Potro 2. Federer serves next.

Fifth set: Federer leads, 3-1

Winding up and slamming the serve down the T, Del Potro pulled up to within a game, then Federer pulled out the artillery, taking a 40-15 lead that he couldn’t hold. It drained away to 40-40 on two Federer unforced errors. At that point, Del Potro returned a serve long and Federer was on the doorstep of pulling ahead, outlasting Del Potro in an eight-shot rally that brought the Argentine to the net for a lunge that missed Federer’s passing shot. Federer leads, 3-1.

Fifth set: Federer leads, 2-0

In the fifth set, Federer strikes first, breaking Del Potro’s serve in the first game. Del Potro stumbles on his ground strokes, hitting long after long rallies. The Swiss serves at 2-1. At point blank range, Federer blinks and pops a volley wide to go down, 0-30. Del Potro nets a forehand service return and Federer drop shots his Argentine opponent to pull to 30-30. Then, Federer powers a slashing first serve up the T and Del Potro can barely get a rackuet on it. In a final point, Federer draws Del Potro to the backhand corner and then powers a forehand down the line to take the game. Score: Federer 2, Del Potro 0.

Federer wins fourth set, 6-1

Sensing his chance, Federer wins his serve at love, sending the match into a fifth and final set. At the moment, Federer has actually won three more points (121 to 118), hit fewer unforced errors (25 to 32), but fewer winning shots (Del Potro 55 winners, Federer 42).

Fourth set: Federer leads, 5-1

Federer has a chance to break Del Potro’s serve, but chips a backhand service return into the net. Del Potro, tall, stoic, and relentless, serves to Federer’s forehand. The Swiss responds by rocketing it past the Argentine into the corner. Del Potro then double faults to lose the game.

Fourth set: Federer leads, 4-1

Wasting no time, Federer won his serve at love. The crowd has begun to sense that there will be a five-setter.

Fourth set: Federer leads, 3-1

Federer stutter-stepped and hit a backhand service return both long and wide to give Del Potro game point, but the Argentine hit a forehand long, sending it to 40-40. Lots of clapping and cheering for both men as the match approaches two and a half hours. Federer gets to a break point with a deft forehand drop shot at the end of a long rally. Del Potro didn’t try to run for it, then hits a forehand long to lose his serve and give Federer daylight for possibly evening the match. Federer breaks Del Potro’s serve.

Fourth set: Federer leads, 2-1

Federer serves an unreturnable slant to the forehand corner which Del Potro punches wide, the backhand a shot over the baseline. Federer up 40-15. Then seals it to win the game.

Fourth set: Del Potro wins service; set is tied 1-1

Again, using his superior wing span, Del Potro powered a series of near winning shots and driving Federer from side to side. To win his serve, he took the net twice, punching volleys away from Federer’s reach.

Fourth set: Federer leads, 1-0

Serving first, Federer pulls up to 30-30. He seems irritated. When Del Potro pointed a ball out, Federer told the chair umpire, “Check it!” At 40-40, Federer went for an ace. Del Potro raced to the sideline and pumped it back, but Federer moved in, slanted it cross court and Del Potro blew it long. Somebody says they’ve spotted former prime minister Giscard d’Estaing in the audience. Federer danced back to the baseline on his final serve and Del Potro hit it long.

Third set: Del Potro wins it, 6-2.

Del Potro’s windmill forehand seems to have pushed Federer to his limits. The Argentine has slashed and burned with inside-out forehands to Federer’s backhand. In one exchange at net, Federer hit four consecutive shots directly at Del Potro, inexplicably allowing his opponent to spin the fourth ball away to the side to win the point.

Third set: Del Potro leads, 5-2

Whipping monster groundstrokes to the corners, Del Potro forces Federer into defensive shots at every turn. On a final break point, Del Potro stormed the net after a five-shot rally. Federer raced to his right, slapped his racket at the ball and sailed it long. He’s down 5-2 now.

Third set: Del Potro leads, 4-2

Del Potro worked out of a 15-30 deficit, smashed an in-and-out forehand into the corner. Federer couldn’t reach it. Then Federer couldn’t return Del Potro’s serve to make it 40-30. Federa pulled it back to deuce, but couldn’t get a backhand service return to clear the net. On game point, Del Potro smashed a forehand up the middle and it skipped off the line and just under Federer’s racquet.