Paris - Roger Federer moved to within one match of finally winning the French Open when he came from behind to defeat Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro in Friday's semi.
The second seed, who has lost the last three finals here to Rafael Nadal, took everything Del Potro could fling at him and then pounced when the South American wilted to win a cliff-hanger 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
In Saturday's final he will take on Swedish surprise Robin Soderling who sent top seed Nadal crashing out in a fourth round shocker.
Soderling, seeded 23, had earlier reached the championship match with a battling 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 semi-final win over Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.
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It was the second five-setter for Federer in the tournament having battled back from two sets to love down against Tommy Haas in the fourth round.
"That's one more step and I am so happy to have come back like that," he said.
"For a moment there Juan Martin was playing so well, but I had some luck on my side and I fought hard.
"Soderling played a great match against Gonzalez to be in the final. He deserves to be there because he also beat Nadal and he was the man to beat in this tournament."
Del Potro had dropped just the one set en route to the last four while Federer had dropped four, but with the world No. 2 having won all five of their previous matches in straight sets he was the big favourite.
Del Potro broke first in the first set to lead 3-2 and easily held his next two serves hitting at well over 200km/p. There was a stunned silence as he then broke Federer to love to the set in 38 minutes.
Federer steadied the ship as they moved in to the second set but he was still unable to put any real pressure on the South American's big serve.
It needed a superb tie-break from him, taking the first three points and then winning it 7/2, to avoid having to face a two sets to love deficit for the second time in the tournament.
Federer let out a roar of self-encouragement as he clinched that, but the frown was back on his face minutes later when he played a loose service game to hand back the initiative to Del Potro at the start of the third set. Once again he comfortably served out to take a two sets to one lead.
But in the fourth set, Del Potro finally wavered on his serve and Federer pounced to take a 3-1 lead. He then ran off the next three games as Del Potro started to unravel.
The South American was on the ropes, his service game stalling, and Federer showed no mercy to break him in the opening game of the deciding set.
The win put the Swiss star into his 19th Grand Slam final, equalling the record of Ivan Lendl. A 14th Grand Slam title win on Saturday would put Federer level with Pete Sampras and lend weight to the argument that he is the greatest player of all time.
He has won his nine previous matches against Soderling. - Sapa-AFP
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