US Open - Federer powers into another final

Eurosport - Mon, 08 Sep 03:23:00 2008

Roger Federer battled past Serbian Novak Djokovic 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2 to reach the final of the US Open for the fifth successive year.

TENNIS 2008 US Open Roger Federer - 0

In a match that was a repeat of last year's final, the four-times champion hammered 20 aces in his best performance of the tournament to set up a final against either world number one Rafael Nadal or British sixth seed Andy Murray.

"I am so excited to be back in the final again," the second seed said.

"I've worked hard all season to do well in the big ones. (To win) here at the Open would mean a hell of a lot to me."

Having struggled en route to the semi-finals, Federer, chasing his first grand slam title of the year but 13th overall, played an almost perfect opening set.

Third seed Djokovic, who beat Federer on his way to his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, looked flat early on but lifted his game to move ahead 4-1 in the second set.

The Swiss hit back to be on even terms at 4-4 but Djokovic broke in the 12th game to level the match.

Federer continued to exert more pressure on the Djokovic serve and one break, in the 11th game, helped him snatch the third set.

Games stayed on serve at the start of the fourth set, but an unfortunate netcord by Djokovic landed out to give Federer the break in the fifth game.

That seemed to knock the air out of Djokovic's lungs and after Federer won a tight service game to lead 4-2, he broke again in the next game before clinching victory with a forehand winner.

Should Federer play Nadal, it would be their third straight meeting in a Grand Slam final, with the Spaniard having won both at the French Open and Wimbledon.

"Who do I prefer to play? I prefer the trophy, that's what I prefer," said Federer, who was deposed as world number one last month.

"But I guess I would have to say Rafa because we've had such great battles over the year. Wimbledon was unbelievable so I hope we can have another one."

Reuters

Comment 154 - 173 of 173

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Roger, lots of us wish you good luck and A Big Winner­ today.
    good luck - real funs are happy to see you back­ on form...
    Whatever discussions are all around, the­ fact is so far you
    - not Rafa or Djokovic - is­ really great tennis player of our time.
    Both R. Nadal­ and N. Djokovich have long road in front of them to­ proof the point
    of being or even try to be the­ Greatest:) Good luck for them in their ways,
    but­ today it's proved Roger is the Man of the Game..

    From zlana, on Mon 8 Sep 3:09PM

  2. im so happy coz u're come back from nightmare.. i­ wanna see you hold that trophy..

    From ideen, on Mon 8 Sep 8:50AM

  3. Official Notice: Eurosport has installed a translation­ service which automatically translates other languages­ into English.

    Post 157: Jebacu ti ja mamu­ pedersku
    Translation: My mummy gave birth to a­ pederast

    Post 159:alo bre!!! dokle ce bre da vas­ provociraju idioti??? aj malo dostojanstva!!! cinjenica­ da je Novak malo poludeo i da mu je slava udarila u­ glavu... treba da cuti i svima da jebe kevu..... od­ price i prepucavanja nema nista... samo se trosis­ mentalno....

    Translation: 'Ullo Bree!!! Did you­ receive the copy of "The Idiot?" Isn't­ Dostoevsky great!!! yesterday my nephew Novak passed­ his cynergetcs exam ... we are all so proud he's­ such a cutie..... the only problem is a prepucal­ infection... but menthol will cure it....

    Post 160:­ Glupi amerikanci e englezi
    Trans: Love american and­ english gluts

    Post 168:Tu visada busi geriaisias­ Roger!!!
    Trans: Even a geriatric could have beaten­ Roger

    From usooft, on Mon 8 Sep 3:53AM

  4. allah has answered ur prayers

    From nthk8, on Mon 8 Sep 2:07AM

  5. com161-fed is olso a good winner.

    From nthk8, on Mon 8 Sep 2:04AM

  6. God has answered my prayers for my man u r the champ­ and always u will be defend it and take for the 5th­ time long live Federa, humble man,
    Steve-ky

    From steven, on Sun 7 Sep 11:56PM

  7. Tu visada busi geriaisias Roger!!!

    From vilius73, on Sun 7 Sep 11:29PM

  8. nice one roger. GOOD LUCK FOR THE FINAL

    From Mandy, on Sun 7 Sep 10:20PM

  9. GO Roger, you are still the greatest. We Jamaicans love­ you and are praying for you to win the US OPEN. Keep­ your focus and you will be victorious. You are our­ USAIN BOLT in Tennis.

    From mishp_ja, on Sun 7 Sep 10:16PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    NOLE is THE BEST!

    From , on Sun 7 Sep 9:17PM

  11. WELL DONE ROGER ON BEATING DJOKOVIC HIS BALL BOUNCING­ GETS ON MY NERVES AND HE SHOULD HAVE MORE WARNING FOR­ IT.
    GO ROGER GO BEAT THEM ALL YOU WILL BE NUMBER ONE­ AGAIN SOON. YOU ARE THE HUNTER NOW NOT THE HUNTED SO GO­ GO GO WIN YOU'RE FIFTH US OPEN IN A ROW.
    SHOW THE­ WORLD YOU ARE STILL THE BEST AND ALWAYS WILL BE.
    GOOD­ LUCK.
    ALISON MERRITT.

    From AJ, on Sun 7 Sep 8:29PM

  12. saying that djokovic plays a boring tennis is­ stupid...he' s a complete player..

    From adrian_rpd_17, on Sun 7 Sep 8:24PM

  13. Nole was like a deadman in that semi. I didn't­ expect him to lose (cuz he has a big heart!!) :(

    From ceko_tc, on Sun 7 Sep 7:55PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FEDERER IS A BAD LOSER.

    From JONHBOY, on Sun 7 Sep 7:47PM

  15. glupi amerikanci i englezi

    From sv.porfirije, on Sun 7 Sep 7:25PM

  16. alo bre!!! dokle ce bre da vas provociraju idioti??? aj­ malo dostojanstva!!! cinjenica da je Novak malo poludeo­ i da mu je slava udarila u glavu... treba da cuti i­ svima da jebe kevu..... od price i prepucavanja nema­ nista... samo se trosis mentalno....
    PS. To all stupid­ ignorants who ask where Serbia is.... IN THE MIDDLE OF­ THE WORLD!!! YOU STUPID @#$%.... YOU CAN HATE US....­ BUT YOU CAN'T IGNORE US.... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE­ WORLD!!!!! THE STREET IN BELGRADE WHERE I WAS BORN­ DATES BACK TO 200 BC!!! IMAGINE THAT, A!!!

    From mikacikidsr, on Sun 7 Sep 7:01PM

  17. Get ready for Fed-express action and for express­ comeback to the top spot
    Go Andy!!!!!!!!!!
    and for the­ arogant serb he has got to much to learn to be in the­ same league with Roger

    From d_angusev, on Sun 7 Sep 4:16PM

  18. JEBACU TI JA MAMU PEDERSKU!

    From marko_ekonomski, on Sun 7 Sep 2:44PM

  19. Well, fruitcakes like groupy must get some too i­ guess
    Anyway, glad Roger made it to the final and hope­ he wins it after so many slumps this year

    From Sda, on Sun 7 Sep 2:17PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ever saw a guy sorta like him on ___ AffluentMeet Com ­ ___ It's where wealthy singles looking for younger­ unattached people to enjoy their wealthy lifestyle­ with.

    From bellywin159, on Sun 7 Sep 2:11PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account