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Federer, Soderling make French Open finals

Posted on: Friday, 5 June 2009, 13:51 CDT

Roger Federer and Robin Soderling each won five-set matches Friday, setting up a French Open championship showdown in Paris.

Federer, No. 2 in the world, again had to rally to get past fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 while Soderling held on for a 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 win over 12th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez.

With the win Federer, in the French Open finals for the fourth consecutive year, has a chance to complete his personal Grand Slam and tie Pete Sampras's record total of 14 major tournament victories. Sunday will mark Soderling's first Grand Slam final.

Federer was down 2-1 in sets and tied 1-1 in the fourth set when the match turned. He won seven consecutive games to go up 2-0 in the fifth set. Del Potro got back to even with his fifth break of the day only to have Federer answer with his fourth break and two service holds for the match.

In the first semifinal Friday, Gonzalez fought back from a two-set deficit with last-game breaks in both the third and fourth sets. He used a second-game break of Soderling's serve to build a 3-0 lead in the fifth set and then held to go up 4-1.

But Soderling got back on serve with a seventh-game break, tied the set at 4-4 by holding his serve and went ahead with his fifth service break of the day. He served out the final game for the match.

Source: United Press International

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