News / Sports
Roger Federer Battles His Way Past Nikolay Davydenko and into French Open Finals
It took everything Roger Federer had to get past Nikolay Davydenko but in the end his 7-5, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (7) match victory put him in line for his first French Open title.
Speaking after the match Federer commented “I could have lost in three sets. He's an excellent player. It's a superb win for me before the final.”
Federer displayed the grit and determination that has led to three straight Grand Slam titles. After falling behind 2-4, and down love-40 in the seventh set, Federer rallied to catch Davydenko and then broke the Russian’s serve to claim the first set.
In each of the final two sets Federer found himself in a hole he had to dig out of as well.
Federer’s victory at Roland Garros not only improved his record to 9-0 lifetime against Davydenko but earned him yet another record for the tennis history books. Federer now advances to his eighth consecutive major final. A victory on Sunday would give him four straight Grand Slam titles, an accomplishment last achieved by Rod Laver in 1969.
While Federer has won ten major titles over the years, the French Open has proven to be the one that has continuously slipped by him. A final’s win would cap a career Grand Slam for Federer and he would join a list of just five men to have accomplished that feat.
If Federer is to earn his first French Open title he will have to beat the winner of the Raphael Nadal and Novak Djokovic match. Nadal, who practically owns the clay courts, beat Federer in the French Open finals last year and beat Mariano Puerta in 2005.
