PARIS (AP) - A relieved Roger Federer leaned on the net following his latest French Open escape, then looked up to accept a handshake from his 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) opponent, Juan Martin del Potro.

"I just congratulated him and wished him good luck," del Potro said. "I said everybody wants him to lift the trophy at the end."

Federer is the French Open favorite, sentimental and otherwise. He’ll play his fourth consecutive Roland Garros final Sunday, with one big difference this year: He’s facing Robin Soderling, not Rafael Nadal.

Soderling, an upset winner against Nadal in the fourth round, extended his improbable Roland Garros run by beating Fernando Gonzalez in a seesaw semifinal Friday, 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4. Federer then came from behind twice to beat del Potro, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

In the all-Russian women’s final Saturday, top-ranked Dinara Safina was to seek her first Grand Slam title against 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Federer will bid for his 14th major title to match Pete Sampras’ record, and he’ll try to become the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam titles. He lost to Nadal in Paris each of the past four years, the last three times in the final, but he’s 9-0 against Soderling.

"Obviously it’s nice to see someone else for a change in the French Open final," Federer said.

For a long time Friday, it appeared Federer would again stumble on the tricky clay. Sensing his once-a-year opportunity again slipping away, he slapped himself in the face after losing one frantic rally.

Maybe that helped. And maybe he was buoyed by a crowd that kept chanting "Ro-ger! Ro-ger!"

"I hope one day I would be the idol of the crowd the way Roger was today," del Potro said.