Roger Federer triumphs over Juan Martin del Potro in Shanghai Masters Semifinals
Roger Federer faced Juan Martin del Potro for a spot in the Shanghai Masters finals. This was a highly anticipated match given del Potro's win over Federer at the last US open quarterfinals. There were significant concerns about whether del Potro would be able to play the semifinal match as he suffered a wrist contusion in his quarterfinal match against Viktor Troicki. However, he decided to play the match and it turned to be a great semifinal.
The first set started with both players holding serve until Federer was broken serving at 2-3. Del Potro got to 15-30 with a huge forehand crosscourt that Federer sent long past the baseline. Then he got to 15-40 with another huge forehand that Federer returned meekly into the net. Federer then proceeded to send a backhand long and Del Potro earned the vital break to go up 4-2. Del Potro then proceeded to consolidate the break by holding a tense service game with Federer making several unsuccessful challenges. Then Federer held his serve and Del Potro was able to close out the first set with a hard fought final service game.
Federer started the second set aggressively and he quickly broke del Potro's serve at 3-2. Federer then got the match back on level terms as he won the 2nd set 6-3.
Both players started the final set sharply, easily winning their opening service games. However del Potro got broken on his second service game when he sent his usually reliable forehand into the net. Federer then easily consolidated the break, ending the service game with a drop shot that clipped the net and dropped over on del Potro’s court. Now Federer was up 3-1 and full of confidence at this crucial point in the match. Del Potro then held his service game at love to get back to 2-3. The decisive break then came as del Potro was broken again serving at 3-5 thus ending a compelling semifinal.
Federer stated in the post match interview that it was a great fun match and that he thought the levels were extremely high and that he couldn’t be happier to win. Federer now goes to face Rafael Nadal in a high anticipated final between the top two players in the world. Federer will be seeking a 5th straight win over Nadal while Nadal will take an impressive 23-14 record against Federer into the final.
