Federer reaches US Open final
2008-09-06 20:04
New York - Four-time defending champion Roger Federer fired 20 aces and advanced to the US Open final with a 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2 victory over Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic on Saturday.
In a rematch of a US Open final that Federer won last year in straight sets, the Swiss second seed stretched his US Open win streak to 33 matches, having not lost since David Nalbandian beat him in the fourth round in 2003.
"I'm so excited to be back in another final. I really hope I can get it," Federer said. "Winning here at the Open, it would mean a hell of a lot to me."
Federer, seeking his 13th career Grand Slam title, will play the winner of a later semi-final between world number one Rafael Nadal and British sixth seed Andy Murray in Sunday's championship match.
Federer, who has never lost a US Open semi-final or final, is chasing the all-time record of 14 Slam titles held by Pete Sampras.
In the final, Federer will face a foe who has an edge in their head-to-head rivalry, Murray ahead 2-1 and Nadal having a 12-6 record against Federer, including French Open and Wimbledon finals triumphs this year.
"Who do I prefer? I prefer the trophy. That's what I prefer," Federer said. "I guess I prefer Rafa because we have played so many times and we had such a great Wimbledon final."
By reaching his 17th Slam final, Federer matched Rod Laver for third on the all-time list, one behind Pete Sampras and two shy of Ivan Lendl's record.
Federer is trying to become the first man to win two Slam events five times in a row, having turned the trick last year at Wimbledon, and would be the first man since Bill Tilden in 1924 to win the US title five times in a row.
Australian Open champion Djokovic, 21, would have replaced Federer, 27, as world number two had he won the US Open.
Federer connected on 76 percent of his first saves and pulled out an ace when he desperately needed it on several key points.
"I was pretty happy. They saved me many times," Federer said. "It has been hard all week to break against the wind. It makes quite a difference in how you construct points. I've concentrated quite a bit on my serve and it has helped."
Olympic champion Nadal defeated Federer in the French Open and Wimbledon finals and the Spanish left-hander replaced him atop the rankings last month, ending a reign of 237 weeks, and will stay number one next week.
Windy, humid conditions greeted players as dark clouds above served notice that a downpour from Tropical Storm Hanna was on the way. The Nadal-Murray match was moved to Louis Armstrong Stadium in a bid to outrace the rain.
"Conditions were tough," Federer said. "We expected wind because of the weather coming in."
In the third set, Djokovic netted a forehand to give Federer a break chance in the 11th game and sent a backhand volley long to hand Federer a 6-5 lead.
Federer made a miraculous leaping forehand save of a Djokovic overhead smash on the next point and held to claim the set, then forced Djokovic to save two break points in the first game of the fourth set.
Djokovic surrendered a break in the fifth game and sent a backhand volley wide to give away another in the seventh to hand Federer a 5-2 lead. Federer held serve to end matters after two hours and 45 minutes on a forehand winner.
Federer improved to 7-2 all-time against Djokovic, who ended the Swiss' run of 10 consecutive Slam finals by beating him in an Australian Open semi-final.
Federer broke Djokovic in the fourth game of the first set, setting it up with a forehand winner and taking the game when Djokovic hit a forehand wide, and served out for the set, his fourth ace claiming it after 25 minutes.
Djokovic broke Federer in the fourth game of the second set, Federer sending a baseline backhand long.
Federer answered with a break in the seventh game but was broken at love in the 12th game, going wide with a backhand, netting two forehands and hitting another long.