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Reuters 17y

UPDATE 2-Tennis-Federer sets record by reaching Paris final

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By Patrick Vignal

PARIS, June 8 - Roger Federer reached a record
eighth consecutive grand slam final by overcoming Russia's
Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 7-6 7-6 in a thrilling French Open
semi-final on Friday.

World number one Federer bettered the record of seven
successive final appearances set by Australian Jack Crawford in
the 1930s but was made to work for it.

The elegant 25-year-old Swiss, chasing the only grand slam
title to elude him, showed more composure when it mattered to
set up a final against either defending champion Rafael Nadal of
Spain or Serbian newcomer Novak Djokovic.

"Anything could have happened in this match," Federer said
with a sigh of relief after snatching victory.

"It was tight until the end. I could have lost in three sets
but I won. He's an excellent player and that was a good test for
me before the final."

Fourth seed Davydenko, who failed to advance to his first
final of a major event, gave his all but it was not enough.

The 26-year-old bowed out by sending a backhand wide on the
second match point after just over three hours of high quality
tennis.

"It was a pretty tough match, physically and mentally,"
Davydenko said. "Because he played fast, I tried to play fast as
well but I didn't have enough power for the entire match and on
important points, he was more concentrated than I was. He badly
wanted to win."

SERVICE WINNERS

Davydenko, who led in all three sets, broke Federer straight
away and earned many break points on the top seed's next service
games.

Federer, who looked sluggish at first, underlined his
determination to fight back by saving three break points with as
many service winners in the seventh game.

In the next game, the Swiss earned his first break
opportunity of the match and converted it courtesy of an
unforced error from his opponent to level the set at 4-4.

A tiebreak was looming when Davydenko fired a backhand long
to drop serve in the 12th game and lose the set after 51
minutes.

The second set was tight until Davydenko broke Federer with
a raging backhand winner to move 5-4 up. He then served for the
set but Federer raised the level of his game with perfect
timing.

A tiebreak was needed, in which Davydenko saved two set
points before Federer converted a third with a service winner to
take it 7-5.

Davydenko refused to give up and managed another break in
the fourth game of the third set. He was 5-3 up when he served
for the set but wasted two set points before being broken, again
on an unforced error.

The set went to another tiebreak, in which Federer wasted a
first match point with a unforced error and saved a break point
with an ace before taking it 9-7.

The victory kept alive Federer's bid to become the third
player to hold all four grand slam titles at the same time after
Don Budge and Rod Laver.

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