PARIS (AP) _ A sluggish Roger Federer overcame a deficit in every
set at the French Open on Friday, and now is within one victory of
the only Grand Slam title he has yet to win.
The top-ranked Swiss looked lacklustre for much of the match but
advanced to the final by beating Nikolay Davydenko 7-5, 7-6 (5), 7-6
(7).
``I could have lost in three sets,'' Federer said. ``He's an
excellent player. It's a superb win for me before the final.''
Federer committed 45 unforced errors but erased 14 break points,
and he saved three set points in the final set to reach his eighth
consecutive major final, a record.
On Sunday, Federer will play the winner of the second semifinal
between two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal and 20-year-old
Serb Novak Djokovic.
Federer is bidding to win his fourth consecutive Grand Slam
title, something last accomplished by Rod Laver in 1969. Federer
seeks his 11th major title, which would tie Laver and Bjorn Borg for
third on the career list. He also can complete the career Grand Slam
that eluded such champions as Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, John
McEnroe, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg _ none of whom won at Roland
Garros.
Only five men have won all four major events.
By reaching his eighth Grand Slam final in a row, Federer broke a
record originally set by Jack Crawford in 1933-34. Federer has won
27 consecutive Grand Slam matches, two shy of the record Laver set
in 1969-70.
Federer's last loss in a major event: to Nadal in the French Open
final a year ago.
Playing for the women's title Saturday will be three-time
champion Justine Henin and 19-year-old Serb Ana Ivanovic, a
first-time Grand Slam finalist.
Henin, who seeks to become the first player since Monica Seles in
1990-92 to win three consecutive French Open titles, advanced
Thursday by beating Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-2. Ivanovic routed No.
2-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-1.
Federer improved to 9-0 against Davydenko but found the
three-hour semifinal a struggle from the start. Federer fell behind
2-4, love-40 in the opening set before he rallied, repeatedly
erasing break points with big serves and breaking in the final game.
When the set ended, Davydenko had converted one of 11 break-point
chances, and Federer was 2-for-2.
Davydenko kept Federer pinned behind the baseline, and in each of
the next two sets the Russian served for the set _ then failed to
close it out.
The most remarkable seesaw sequence came with Davydenko serving
at 5-3 in the third set. During the sloppy 20-point game, Federer
failed to convert five break-point chances, and Davydenko squandered
two set points, sailing a forehand long each time.
Federer finally broke when Davydenko dumped a backhand in the
net. That made Federer 4-for-15 converting break-point chances.
Davydenko finished 3-for-17 and committed 53 unforced errors. The
Russian held one last set point at 7-6 in the final tiebreaker, but
Federer hit a service winner. Two points later, Davydenko chipped a
backhand wide to give a visibly relieved Federer the victory.
