Federer vs. del Potro: Tennis Great Survives Marathon Match, Advances to Finals

Roger Federer's quest for an Olympic gold medal lives, if only by the skin of his teeth, following an epic three-set victory over Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 19-17 at the 2012 Olympics on Friday. 

Things did not look good for Federer at the start. He looked lost in the first set, which del Potro easily won. Federer was hitting the ball into the net and making a lot of unforced errors that made it look like it was just not going to be his day. 

However, showing the resolve and determination that has made him a 17-time Grand Slam winner and one of the most decorated athletes of the 21st century, Federer was able to bounce back after a sluggish second set to get into a tiebreak. 

After taking the tiebreak 7-5, Federer still had plenty of work to do. Del Potro, who could have lost his composure after being so close to victory, battled back in the third set to provide one of the most entertaining and thrilling final sets in recent memory. 

Del Potro had plenty of chances to put Federer away—he was up 7-6, 8-7, 9-8, 11-10, 12-11, 13-12, 14-13, 15-14, 16-15 and 17-16—but he just couldn't get over that final hurdle to close it out.

To be fair, Federer's serve is what kept him in it. If not for that, he would have been done in straight sets, no questions asked.

This will be the first finals for Federer at the Olympics. He was eliminated by James Blake in the quarterfinals four years ago and by Tomas Berdych in the Round of 32 in Athens eight years ago. He will await the winner of the Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray matchup.

It will be interesting to see what Federer has left following this epic semifinal victory against del Potro. 

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