PARIS(AP) After losing to Roger Federer in a tight five-set match in the French Open semifinals, Juan Martin del Potro has yet another reason to envy his more accomplished rival.
Led on by a loud and boisterous crowd on center court at Roland Garros, Federer twice rallied from a one-set deficit to beat del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 and move on to face Robin Soderling in Sunday's final.
``I hope one day I would be the idol of the crowd the way Roger was today,'' said del Potro, who had to listen to the fans roar as Federer made shot after shot, slowly getting himself back into the match.
After del Potro took the first set, both players held serve throughout the second. But Federer dominated the tiebreaker - as he usually does, bringing his career record in them to 251-132 - to even the match and bring the fans into the equation.
We were both playing at our best, and I believe really the crowd enjoyed it, too,'' del Potro said.I was very happy to see the crowd so happy, and I saw the Argentineans were behind me until the end.''
Federer, who has lost in the last three French Open finals to Rafael Nadal, was enjoying the support from the locals, and from the many fans wearing and waving red Swiss flags.
They were really great with me, and they probably waited for this moment,'' said Federer, a 13-time major champion who can tie Pete Sampras' record of 14 and complete a career Grand Slam with a win Sunday.They wanted me to do something magical. It took me a certain while before I did it.''
Federer, though, said he felt bad for del Potro after the match.
He's a young player. You always think that there aren't that many opportunities, that many chances for younger players,'' Federer said.So I was a bit sad for him when I won. I respect him awfully because he (has) made considerable progress, and I'm certain he's going to be a great player in the future.''
Del Potro was taking part in his first Grand Slam semifinal, but instead of getting to play again in a couple of days at Roland Garros, the 20-year-old del Potro will be somewhere else when Federer and Soderling walk out onto Court Philippe Chatrier.
I really wanted to be in that final, and now I'm going to have to watch it on TV,'' del Potro said.If it had been in the best-of-three sets, I would have won and I would have come out of that court satisfied.
``Right now, I don't have enough words to explain what I feel. ... That match escaped me.''