Del Potro takes second straight from Federer
BY MATTIAS KAREN Associated Press
Sunday, November 11, 2012
11/11/12 at 6:49 AM
LONDON - Juan Martin del Potro is getting the better of Roger Federer again, in a way that no player had managed in a decade.
To end the season with a title, though, he might have to get past the Swiss great again in just two days.
Using his hard serve and booming forehand, Del Potro earned the last spot in the semifinals of the ATP finals Saturday by overcoming the already-qualified Federer 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3 in their last round-robin match. Del Potro will face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals Sunday, before Federer takes on Andy Murray.
It was Federer's second straight loss to Del Potro, who also beat him in the final in the Swiss star's hometown tournament in Basel last month. It's the first time a player has beaten Federer in two straight indoor tournaments since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
"It's a little record, but really tough to do it," Del Potro said. "To beat Federer is not easy, for sure. But I didn't think about the semis or trying to qualify for the next round. Just was thinking about my match, doing the same things like in Basel."
Del Potro beat Federer in the 2009 U.S. Open final for his only Grand Slam title, leading many to predict that the tall Argentine would challenge for many more major titles. But he then had much of the next season ruined by a serious wrist injury and has struggled to re-establish himself at the top.
This year, he wasted a two-set lead against Federer in the French Open quarterfinals and lost to him in the longest Olympic match ever, an epic semifinal that ended 19-17 in the third set.
"Good effort (from) his side to get me twice in a row now," Federer said. "I hoped I didn't have to lose against him again today."
It was Federer's first loss in the indoor tournament since 2009, ending a 12-match winning streak. He went undefeated in winning the last two titles and had won his first two group-stage matches this year.
Original Print Headline: Federer falls again to Del Potro
Associated Images:
Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina plays a return to Roger Federer during their ATP World Tour Finals singles match at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday. SANG TAN / Associated Press
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