WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Roger Federer made his the first Olympic singles final on Friday in a marathon match, winning 19-17 in the final set against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro.
The semifinal match lasted 4 hours, 26 minutes, and Federer rallied to win 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17. He converted only two of 13 break-point chances, the second coming in the next-to-last game.
He will play either No. 2-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia and No. 3 Andy Murray of Britain.
Del Potro will play for the bronze.
In 2008, Federer and Swiss teammate Stanislas Wawrinka won the gold in doubles. But Federer had been 0 for 3 in Olympic singles, the biggest hole in a resume that includes a record 17 Grand Slam titles.
First-time Olympian Maria Sharapova advanced to the women's final by beating Russian teammate Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-3. Sharapova's opponent Saturday will be Serena Williams or No. 1-seeded Victoria Azarenka.
