RICKY’S PICK FOR THE U.S. OPEN FINAL: DJOKOVIC VS. FEDERER

Written by: Staff on 12th September 2015

RICKY'S PICK FOR THE U.S. OPEN FINAL: DJOKOVIC VS. FEDERER

epa04926268 Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland during their Semifinals round match on the twelfth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Ricky’s pick for the U.S. Open final: Djokovic vs. Federer

By Ricky Dimon

It will be No. 1 vs. No. 2 for the U.S. Open title on Sunday afternoon. No rivalry in tennis is better than Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer right now and the two familiar foes will meet for the sixth time this season and for the 42nd time in their careers.

In other words, this is a tennis fan’s dream.

The head-to-head series could not be any closer, to the extent that it may be all tied up again by the time this one ends. Federer holds a 21-20 edge after beating Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-3 in this summer’s Cincinnati final. Djokovic, however, has won three of their five 2015 encounters–including a 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3 victory in the Wimbledon championship match. The Serb is 7-6 at his rival’s expense in Grand Slams despite losing four of their first five such showdowns.

Since toppling Djokovic in Cincinnati, an on-fire Federer has not looked back. Playing without question the best tennis in the world right now, Federer has not lost a set so far this fortnight. The 34-year-old Swiss punched his ticket to the title match by disposing of Leonardo Mayer, Steve Darcis, Philipp Kohlschreiber, John Isner, Richard Gasquet, and Stan Wawrinka. Only Isner pushed him to a pair of tiebreakers and nobody else even came within 7-5 in any set.

An aggressive Federer is striking winners from all over the court and he has continued to execute the Sneak Attack By Roger (SABR) tactic–although to what extent depends on the opponent. The world No. 2 never did it against Isner for obvious reasons, but he fared well with it on occasion versus Djokovic in Cincinnati.

“For me, if it makes sense–which I think it does–I’ll use it in the finals,” Federer commented. “I used it to great effect against [Djokovic] in the tough situation at 4-1 in the ‘breaker in Cincy. We will see if the occasion presents itself. It’s got to be the right point, right frame of mind, the right place to do it. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to do it.”

Djokovic has an opportunity to win his third major title of the year and effectively come within one match–besting Serena Williams, who was two matches away–of capturing the calendar-year Grand Slam. The top seed previously triumphed at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon to go along with his runner-up showing at Roland Garros. So far in New York he has defeated Joao Souza, Andreas Haider-Maurer, Andreas Seppi, Roberto Bautista Agut, Feliciano Lopez, and Marin Cilic–dropping sets to Bautista Agut and Lopez in the process.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Marin Cilic of Croatia during their Semifinals round match on the twelfth day of the 2015 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 11 September 2015. The US Open runs through 13 September, which is a return to a 14-day schedule. EPA/CJ GUNTHER

“I came here with a wish and a mission: to reach the finals and fight for the trophy,” Djokovic assured. “So I got myself in that position. It’s already a great result. But I want to get that final step on Sunday and get my hands on that trophy. Obviously I’m not the only one who wants that. [A] Swiss player will be on (the) opposite side of the net. We will definitely want to have the same kind of mission.”

When the world’s two best players with the same goal collide, the result should be another instant classic. Federer is showcasing the better form, but can he sustain his incredible level from start to finish in a best-of-five situation? He has not been able to do that against Djokovic in recent times–and he will once again come painfully close.

Pick: Djokovic in 5

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2015 U.S. Open, Atp World Tour, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

September 12, 2015 at 5:30 pm

-@Dimonator’s PICK FOR THE #USOpen FINAL: @DjokerNole VS. @rogerfederer- http://t.co/gmF7z1zLWs #Federer #Djokovic #USOpen2015
Dimonator says:

September 12, 2015 at 5:50 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator’s PICK FOR THE #USOpen FINAL: @DjokerNole VS. @rogerfederer- http://t.co/gmF7z1zLWs #Federer #Djokovic #USOpe…