NEW YORK – For Roger Federer, it was déjà vu. For Novak Djokovic, it was his third Grand Slam final of 2011 and his second straight trip to the US Open title match.
A year ago Federer failed to convert two match points as he lost to Djokovic in the semifinals of America’s premier tennis tournament.
Saturday night, history repeated itself. The Swiss master had double match point, 40-15, while serving in the ninth game of the fifth set, one point from Monday’s men’s singles championship match against Spain’s Rafael Nadal in a rematch of last year.
It was Djokovic, however, who will still be around New York two days hence after coming out on top in a thrilling 6-7 (7) 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5 crowd-pleasing masterpiece.
Nadal, the defending US Open champion, grabbed his spot in the final by defeating fourth-seeded Andy Murray 6-4 6-2 3-6 6-2. In last year’s final, Nadal beat Djokovic in four sets.
On Saturday night’s first match point in the opening semifinal, the Serbian right-hander rocketed a service return cross-court that Federer could only look at to make it 40-30.
“I had to take my chances. I was very close to being on my way back home,” Djokovic said. “I managed to hit that amazing forehand return which got me back.”
On the next point Federer flicked a forehand that caught the net tape and bounced wide. That made it deuce.
Federer saved one break point with an ace. But two points later Federer double-faulted for the fourth time in the match, this one the most costly. It gave Djokovic the break and pulled him back on serve at 4-5.
Federer won only three more points the rest of the match as Djokovic reeled off the final four games.
“He came back; he played well,” Federer said of the world’s top-ranked player. “I didn’t play so well at the very end.”
Not so in the beginning of the 3-hour, 51-minute battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium court. It was Federer who, if not dominating, was winning the key points, taking a 2-0 lead in sets.
“I was two sets down and I haven’t won many matches in my life when I was two sets down,” said Djokovic, who is seeking his third Grand Slam tournament title of the year after capturing the Australian Open in January and Wimbledon in July. “Especially against Roger.
“We all are aware of his quality. When he’s a set or two sets up, he doesn’t let you win. When he’s in control of the match, he’s confident, and it’s really hard to get back into the match.”
Djokovic did just that, however, raising the level of his game.
“I managed to play better,” he said, “to switch gears, and I managed to play two incredible sets: third and fourth. Then I felt it’s the moment when I should step in and show what I got, and it paid off.”
That took it to a fifth set – the first five-set match Djokovic has played this year. And when Federer broke the Serb at love to grab a 5-3 lead, most of the crowd figured the Swiss right-hander would be fighting Monday night for his sixth US Open championship.
Djokovic had other ideas.
With Federer serving for the match, Djokovic won the opening point on an unforced error. Federer slammed an ace, his 10th of the day, to pull even at 15. Two points later he was at 40-15, double match point.
That was when Djokovic ripped the forehand service return, probably the hardest hit ball of the match, for a winner.
“That forehand return, I cannot explain it to you because I don’t know how it happened,” Djokovic said. “Yeah, I read his serve and I was on the ball and I had to hit it hard. And it got in, luckily for me.”
After that it was all Djokovic, revenge in a way after having his 43-match winning streak ended by Federer in the semifinals at Roland Garros.
“It’s obvious that this is the best year of my career by far,” the super Serb said. “The confidence level that is very high at this moment helps me to get into the big matches and go for my shots that I maybe in some situations wouldn’t. … It helped me in this match, knowing that I have such a great season and knowing that I have such great confidence.
“I really have nothing to lose, even though it’s semifinals of a Grand Slam and playing somebody who is a great rival of mine. But for these matches you’re working hard and you want to be there.
“You want to be there and you want to win against guys like Federer.”