New York:
Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic defeated 16-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the US Open final, where he will face world number one Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic saved two match points in ending Federer's streak of six US Open finals appearances in a row for a measure of revenge for losing to the Swiss second seed in the 2007 US Open final and 2008 and 2009 US Open semi-finals.
"It's really hard to describe the feeling I have," Djokovic said. "Ten minutes ago I was just a point from losing.
"It was just a big pleasure playing in this kind of match. It's one of those matches you will always remember for the rest of your career."
The victory spoiled what would have been a dream matchup between Nadal and Federer in the only Grand Slam final in which they have never played.
Djokovic has lost 14 of 21 matches against Nadal, who ousted Russian 12th seed Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in an earlier semi-final. Later-semi winners have a 14-12 record in US Open finals since the next-day format began.
"Definitely Rafa is playing fantastic tennis. He's the best player in the world," Djokovic said. "I will do my best to recover and give him my best challenge."
Djokovic, whose only Grand Slam title came at the 2008 Australian Open, seeks his 18th career crown. He had lost six of prior eight Grand Slam semi-finals, including his past four in a row.
"I'm so happy to be in the final," Djokovic said. "I was closing my eyes and just kept hitting forehands. If it goes in, it goes in. If it goes out, another loss to Federer in US Open."
Djokovic, who lost 10 of 16 prior career matches against Federer, took advantage when Federer faltered in the 11th game of the last set, surrendering a break chance that Djokovic won when the Swiss star swatted a forehand wide.
The 23-year-old Serbian served for the match but hit a backhand wide to give Federer a chance to break and force the first fifth-set tie-breaker in a US Open semi-final in 30 years.
But Federer hit a backhand long to miss his chance, then netted a forehand to give Djokovic his first match point and the Serbian ended it after three hours and 44 minutes when Federer was wide with a forehand after a long rally.
Nadal will be trying to complete a career Grand Slam by adding his first US Open crown to titles at Wimbledon and the French and Australian Opens. At 24, Nadal would be the second-youngest of seven to achieve the feat.
"Novak is going to be very difficult," Nadal said. "I've had a lot of losses against him on this kind of surface."
If he takes the 1.7 million-dollar top prize, the Spaniard would also become only the fourth man to win three consecutive Grand Slam titles in the Open era dating to 1968, joining Federer, Pete Sampras and Rod Laver.
Nadal is assured of remaining atop the rankings no matter how the final goes.
Federer fell behind 0-40 in the sixth game of the first set, then saved two break points on aces, the latter on a replayed point after a linesman fell. Djokovic backhanded a volley winner on the next point, however, for a 4-2 lead.
But the 29-year-old Swiss star broke back in the next game, blasting a forehand winner on break point, and broke the Serbian again at love in the 11th game before holding to claim the opening set.
In the second set, Federer botched backhand volleys to surrender breaks in the second and sixth games to hand Djokovic service breaks as the Serbian breezed through the set, the first Federer had lost in the tournament. The Swiss star hit just two winners compared to 10 unforced errors in the set.
Federer answered the wake-up call by breaking at love in the 12th game of the third set, winning eight of the set's ast nine points, the last when the Serb sent a forehand wide.
Djokovic responded quick. He fired a backhand winner to break for a 2-1 edge in the fourth set and blasted a forehand winner to break again for a 4-1 lead on his way to forcing a fifth set.
Djokovic saved two match points in ending Federer's streak of six US Open finals appearances in a row for a measure of revenge for losing to the Swiss second seed in the 2007 US Open final and 2008 and 2009 US Open semi-finals.
"It's really hard to describe the feeling I have," Djokovic said. "Ten minutes ago I was just a point from losing.
"It was just a big pleasure playing in this kind of match. It's one of those matches you will always remember for the rest of your career."
The victory spoiled what would have been a dream matchup between Nadal and Federer in the only Grand Slam final in which they have never played.
Djokovic has lost 14 of 21 matches against Nadal, who ousted Russian 12th seed Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in an earlier semi-final. Later-semi winners have a 14-12 record in US Open finals since the next-day format began.
"Definitely Rafa is playing fantastic tennis. He's the best player in the world," Djokovic said. "I will do my best to recover and give him my best challenge."
Djokovic, whose only Grand Slam title came at the 2008 Australian Open, seeks his 18th career crown. He had lost six of prior eight Grand Slam semi-finals, including his past four in a row.
"I'm so happy to be in the final," Djokovic said. "I was closing my eyes and just kept hitting forehands. If it goes in, it goes in. If it goes out, another loss to Federer in US Open."
Djokovic, who lost 10 of 16 prior career matches against Federer, took advantage when Federer faltered in the 11th game of the last set, surrendering a break chance that Djokovic won when the Swiss star swatted a forehand wide.
The 23-year-old Serbian served for the match but hit a backhand wide to give Federer a chance to break and force the first fifth-set tie-breaker in a US Open semi-final in 30 years.
But Federer hit a backhand long to miss his chance, then netted a forehand to give Djokovic his first match point and the Serbian ended it after three hours and 44 minutes when Federer was wide with a forehand after a long rally.
Nadal will be trying to complete a career Grand Slam by adding his first US Open crown to titles at Wimbledon and the French and Australian Opens. At 24, Nadal would be the second-youngest of seven to achieve the feat.
"Novak is going to be very difficult," Nadal said. "I've had a lot of losses against him on this kind of surface."
If he takes the 1.7 million-dollar top prize, the Spaniard would also become only the fourth man to win three consecutive Grand Slam titles in the Open era dating to 1968, joining Federer, Pete Sampras and Rod Laver.
Nadal is assured of remaining atop the rankings no matter how the final goes.
Federer fell behind 0-40 in the sixth game of the first set, then saved two break points on aces, the latter on a replayed point after a linesman fell. Djokovic backhanded a volley winner on the next point, however, for a 4-2 lead.
But the 29-year-old Swiss star broke back in the next game, blasting a forehand winner on break point, and broke the Serbian again at love in the 11th game before holding to claim the opening set.
In the second set, Federer botched backhand volleys to surrender breaks in the second and sixth games to hand Djokovic service breaks as the Serbian breezed through the set, the first Federer had lost in the tournament. The Swiss star hit just two winners compared to 10 unforced errors in the set.
Federer answered the wake-up call by breaking at love in the 12th game of the third set, winning eight of the set's ast nine points, the last when the Serb sent a forehand wide.
Djokovic responded quick. He fired a backhand winner to break for a 2-1 edge in the fourth set and blasted a forehand winner to break again for a 4-1 lead on his way to forcing a fifth set.
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