Top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland and Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina advanced to the Swiss Indoors final.
Both Federer and Del Porto faced each other in the semi-final at the London Olympics. It was an intensely fought match which Federer won 3-6, 7-6 (5), 19-17. Federer's skills were really put to the test in that game.
In the Swiss Open, Federer defeated the 101-ranked Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-5, 6-4 in the semi-finals while Del Potro beat Richard Gasquet, the third seeded Frenchman, 6-2, 6-2.
Federer and Del Porto have had as many as six encounters this year and Federer has successively beaten the Argentine on all six occasions.
"I'm excited to see how he is going to come out and play," Federer said. "We have had a couple of tough ones, at the French Open and particularly at the Olympics. I had a really hard time breaking his serve. The margins are extremely small."
The eighth-ranked Del Potro failed to capitalize on a two-set lead in their quarterfinal match at Roland Garros. He had also won the first set at the London Olympics before letting Federer take charge again. He did well to win a bronze medal though.
"I was close in the Olympics and French Open but I never beat him this year. He has all the shots. He's a very, very complete player."
Federer is close to winning his sixth title in seven years. He fired 10 brilliant aces giving Mathieu no break-point opportunity. He displayed excellent timing and anticipation.
Federer has an impressive 13-2 career record against the Argentine. One of Del Porto's famous victories over Federer came in the 2009 US Open final. He defeated Federer 3-6, 7-6(7-5), 4-6, 7-6(7-4) in that match. He was out of action in the 2010 season due to a wrist injury.
Federer said about Del Potro: "Now he is finally back to his real self again. He looked really impressive today."
Del Potro was pleased with his efforts against Gasquet in the semi finals and said: "My play against Gasquet was almost perfection. Now I have to play better tomorrow if I want to win this tournament."
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