6 Jun 2009

Federer overcomes Del Potro to reach Paris final

12:24 pm on 6 June 2009

Roger Federer will play Robin Soderling in the final of the French tennis Open on Monday.

Federer's beaten Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in five sets to reach his fourth consecutive final on the clay in Paris.

The Swiss had to battle back from a set down then won a set point, going on to beat del Potro 3-6 7-6 2-6 6-1 6-4 in what was the world number two's 20th consecutive grand slam semi-final.

Earlier the Swede Soderling, who knocked out defending champion Rafael Nadal, beat Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in another five-set thriller to march into his first grand slam final.

Both matches went to exactly three hours and 28 minutes.

Meanwhile Nadal has withdrawn from next week's Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Queen's Club with a knee injury.