ESPN 2009 French Open

Technically Speaking: Power Forehand

Darren Cahill and Brad Gilbert teach you how to execute a proper power forehandTags: Tennis

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Technically Speaking: Power Forehand

PARIS -- Getting into a groove at the French Open, Roger Federer is two victories from completing a career Grand Slam and tying Pete Sampras' record for major titles.

Roger That

Roger Federer is 5-0 against Juan Martin del Potro and has never dropped a set to the Argentine.

Federer wins vs. del Potro

Tourney	Result
'09 Madrid	6-3, 6-4
'09 Australian	6-3, 6-0, 6-0
'08 Madrid	6-3, 6-3
'07 Basel	6-1, 6-4
'07 Wimbledon	6-2, 7-5, 6-1

After three consecutive so-so performances, Federer was challenged only fleetingly in the quarterfinals Wednesday at Roland Garros before beating 11th-seeded Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-2, 6-4.

Federer is 5-0 against his opponent Friday, No. 5-seeded Juan Martin del Potro. The 6-foot-6 Argentine advanced to his first Grand Slam semifinal by beating No. 16 Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

Is Federer the favorite?

"He still has two tough matches if he wants to win, but I think he can do it," said Monfils, who lost to Federer in last year's semifinals in Paris. "He should be very motivated to win, so, yeah, why not?"

Federer reached the semifinals for the 20th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, extending his own record.

"I felt some pressure before this match," Federer said. "I was very nervous, because I thought it would be very difficult."

He did face two break points in the opening game of the match and another at 5-5 in the first set -- but saved each of them.

Then, in the tiebreak, Monfils held a set point at 6-5 but again Federer held steady, and the Frenchman sent a backhand wide to make it 6-all. Two points later -- a service winner and a volley winner by Federer -- the set was over, and so, essentially, was the match.

"Maybe I took too many risks at the beginning," the second-seeded Federer said, "but I was worried about his forehand."

Federer owns 13 Grand Slam singles titles, and the French Open is the only major championship he hasn't won. He lost to Rafael Nadal in each of the past three finals at Roland Garros, as well as in the 2005 semifinals.

Del Potro vs. Top Four

Against the ATP's top four ranked men, Juan Martin del Potro has a career record of 2-15.

Opponent	Record	Sets
R. Nadal	1-4	2-10
R. Federer	0-5	0-12
A. Murray	1-3	5-7
N. Djokovic	0-3	0-7

But Nadal is no longer around this year after being upset in the fourth round by Robin Soderling.

Since the start of the 2005 French Open, Federer is 0-4 against Nadal in Paris, 28-0 against everyone else.

Still, Federer was extended to four sets in both the second and third rounds and then needed to overcome a two-set deficit before getting past Tommy Haas in five sets in the fourth round.

"I had problems at the beginning of each match in this tournament, because it often was 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, so I wasn't playing freely," Federer said. "Today is the first match the score wasn't close."

He won 18 of the last 19 points on his serve.

"Today," Monfils said, "he didn't miss a lot."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.