World No. 3 Roger Federer took at two sets to love lead in today’s US Open semi-final against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The outcome of the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium – Novak Djokovic winning in five sets 6-7 (7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5.
The fighter from Serbia was not only two sets to love down today he also faced two match points in the fifth set at 3-5 down. “It was definitely the biggest wins of this year and one of the biggest wins of my career under the circumstances. I was down two sets, Roger was in control, he was playing better. But I switched gears and I managed to win the last thee sets,” the world number one said.
The first set lasted for 55 minutes and Djokovic was in control of his service games only losing a handful of points on the way to the tiebreak. Federer took the tiebreak 9-7. The second set consisted of some break of serve. The Swiss was the first the break and took a 3-1 lead. The Serb broke back and won the next two games. Federer came back and broke Djoko to take a 5-3 lead. Federer served out the set and took a 2-0 lead.
Djokovic took the third set in 42 minutes and one break 6-3. In the fourth set Nole broke Federer in the opening game. He raced ahead 5-1 and closed out the set 6-2. Djokovic and Federer were on-looked by an army of celebrities at Flushing Meadows today. Justin Timberlake, Jeremy Piven, P-Diddy, Ben Stiller, Will Ferell and Bradley Cooper.
Some amazing tennis was displayed in the fifth set. Djokovic had to take a chance after having faced two match points at 3-5 down. “I was thinking if it goes in, it goes in. It was a risk. Last year it was a very similar situation. He was two match points up and I hit a forehand as hard as I could. You’re gambling, If it’s out, you’ve lost and if it’s in, you maybe have a chance. I was lucky today,” The Wimbledon Champ said.
Roger Federer broke Djokovic’s serve in the eight game. Federer went out to serve for the match at 5-3 and had 40-15. Federer managed to convert the match points and saw himself being broken instead. Novak levelled the match at 5-5. He broke Roger’s serve and then served out the match and booked himself a spot in this year’s US Open final.
Today’s win gives Djokovic a 63-2 win/loss record this year. Tomorrow’s final will be his sixth Grand Slam final appearance. If he wins the trophy on Monday, he will have won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same year. Only six men have managed to do this in the Open Era.
“I’m going to sit in a chair and enjoy the Nadal-Murray match, hopefully they’re going to play as long as we did! They are both fantastic players an whoever I play, it’s a final, it’s very unpredictable. Hopefully we can have another exciting match,” the US Open finalist said.