It would be difficult to find a defeat in any sport, let alone tennis, that would do wonders for a players confidence. But as the natural hate and disappointment of losing a five set French Open semi-final to Roger Federer subsides, Juan Martin Del Potro really should treat this result as a key step forward in a flourishing career.
Not only was it the first time that Del Potro managed to push Federer to the brink of yet another French Open exit, It also showed that the young Argentinean has now learned the tricks of the trade to become one of the best players of his generation.
His first set against Federer was testament to his growing standing in men’s tennis.
From the outset, Del Potro looked to impose his game against an opponent that has had it all over him since he was a teenager making the transition to pro tournaments.
Aided with a high percentage of first serves, not to mention his precise groundstrokes, Del Potro finally made Federer feel the distress that has plagued the 20 year old in his past five meetings against the Swiss maestro.
Indeed Del Potro managed to finally register his maiden set against Federer in all meetings between the pair. He won the first set 6-3 in a match that many tipped had a routine Federer victory written all over it.
But this encounter was far from a walk in the park for Federer, and it showed in the second set, as Del Potro went about putting one hand on a maiden Grand Slam final appearance.
In a tight second set, both players found their respective serves very difficult to break, as is the case with two players who are in top form.
As the set neared an inevitable tie breaker, one knew that Federer’s experience would play a pivotal role in destabilising Del Potro’s game.
And so it did, as the Swiss player scored a 7-2 tiebreak victory that allowed him to maintain his course for a place in the final.
Despite parcelling up the second set however, it was Del Potro that raised his game to a new level in the following set, playing shots that left Federer both confused and stranded near the back of the court.
Del Potro ended up taking the second set 6-2 to put himself in a rare winning position against arguably one of the greatest players of all time.
And it was this fact alone that allowed Federer to showcase his tremendous touch and skill in the face of adversity, to win the fourth set 6-1 and lay the platform for an inevitable victory.
Despite being broken in the first game of the decisive set however, Del Potro showed terrific fighting spirit to win the break back and keep the French faithful on the edge of their seats.
At 3-3 however, Federer broke Del Potro’s serve again and it proved to be the final nail in the coffin in giving the Swiss star a 6-4 fifth set victory that sealed his passage to another French Open final.
As Federer marches on to create history, Del Potro will no doubt be watching the final on television, knowing full well that he now has the necessary ingredients to perhaps one day rival the achievements of the man who is now seeking to equal Pete Sampra’s record of 14 grand slam titles.
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