Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro claimed a surprise 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 victory over defending champion Roger Federer on Saturday to book his place in the semifinals of the ATP Tour Finals.
Del Potro's victory ended Federer's 12-match winning run at the season-ending event and guaranteed he will qualify from Group B along with the Swiss star.
Federer, who has won the Tour Finals title for the last two years, already knew he was through after winning his first two group matches at London’s O2 Arena.
The semifinal match-ups will not be decided until after the final group match between David Ferrer and Janko Tipsarevic later on Saturday.
Victory for Ferrer would mean it is Federer who plays Andy Murray with del Potro playing Novak Djokovic, while a Tipsarevic win would reverse the fixtures.
“I'm so happy to beat Roger once again, I know he's a favourite here but the crowd respected me also,” Del Potro said.
“I was a little lucky towards the end of the match. Always when you beat these kinds of players you need luck on your side but I played well.
“I took the break-point chances in the last set, then I served really well in the last game. I was very nervous but I closed out the match.
“It's going to be a tough match against Djokovic or Murray, but I'm so excited to get into the semis.”
Federer had won 13 of his previous 16 meetings, but the Argentine has given him plenty of trouble at times.
As well as winning his only Grand Slam title with a win over Federer at the 2009 US Open, del Potro also handed the 31-year-old his only other indoor defeat in the last two years in the final of his hometown tournament in Basle last month. That pattern continued as a tight first set saw sixth-seeded del Potro save three break points to keep Federer at bay. Then in the tie-break, Federer suddenly lost his rhythm and del Potro took advantage to snatch the first set.
Federer made a strong response, reeling off eight successive points to break at the start of the second set, and that was enough to level the match. But del Potro’s big-hitting style blew Federer off course again in the deciding set.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion was unable to survive the barrage and del Potro broke for a 2-0 lead before holding his nerve to serve out a superb win in two hours.
Surprise win
India’s Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek enjoyed a surprise 6-4, 6-7(6), 10-7 win over the top seeded Bryan brothers to clinch first place in Group A on Saturday.
Paes and Stepanek had already booked their place in Sunday’s semifinals after winning their opening two group fixtures, but they didn’t take it easy against Bob and Mike Bryan. After winning a tight first set, they were pegged back in the second, which the Americans won on a tie-break.
That meant a super tie-break was needed to settle the match and Paes and Stepanek took it on their second match point.
Earlier, Andy Murray swept into the semifinals as he defeated France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-6(3) on Friday.
The results: Group A: Andy Murray (bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-6(3). Group B: Juan Martin del Potro bt Roger Federer 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3.
Doubles: Group A: Leander Paes & Radek Stepanek bt Bob & Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-7(6), 10-7. Group B: Robert Lindstedt & Horia Tecau bt Jonathan Marray & Frederik Nielsen 6-3, 7-5.
