Roger Federer and Djokovic will meet in the semi final of the French Open.Roger Federer withstood two sets of Argentine fireworks before dousing Juan Martin del Potro’s challenge with a 3-6 6-7 6-2 6-0 6-3 win to reach the semi-finals of the French Open.
The Swiss third seed’s chances of winning a second title here appeared to be sinking fast as he drowned under a hail of winners flying off Del Potro’s racket in the opening two sets.
But the 2009 champion stayed calm to break for a 2-0 lead in the third set and from then on Del Potro’s dodgy left knee and mindset started to let him down.
The ninth seed won only eight points during a forgettable fourth set and his misery was compounded when he bowed out after a forehand clipped the net and bounced out to hand Federer victory.
Meanwhile,Novak Djokovic saved four match points as he roared back to beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1 5-7 5-7 7-6 6-1 in a five-set thriller to reach the French Open semi-finals.The world number one looked utterly convincing as he romped through the opening set, losing just one game, but Tsonga produced some virtuoso tennis to take the next two sets in dramatic fashion before going on to stand on the brink of causing a major upset.
Tsonga had four match points in the fourth set, but Djokovic showed remarkable resilience in pulling through and taking it on a tie-break before coasting through the decider to set up a semi-final clash with third seed Roger Federer.
The pair came into the encounter with a 5-5 head-to-head record – Tsonga took five of their first seven but came up short at Wimbledon and the Rogers Cup last year and Rome, at the quarter-final stage, three weeks ago – and it always looked destined to be a classic.
Tsonga acknowledged the Parisian crowd as they gave the pair a standing ovation, but he was left distraught after a brave showing in defeat, while Djokovic proved once again why he is the world number one. A semi-final clash with Federer awaits.
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