For Roger Federer to win his fifth US Open title in a row, the Swiss second seed must prove he still has what it takes to beat Novak Djokovic, this time in a semi-final rematch of last year’s final.
Twelve-time Grand Slam winner Federer and Serbian third seed Djokovic, the reigning Australian Open champion, advanced to a semi-final replay today of their title showdown last year with impressive quarter-final triumphs on Thursday.
Federer advanced to his 18th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final by defeating qualifier Gilles Muller 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) to end the left-hander’s dream run.
“I’m happy to keep the semi-final streak alive. That’s a huge streak for a long time,” Federer said. “I’m really happy with my mindset going into the semi-finals. I’m happy to take it to the final four one more time.”
Federer, who last missed a Slam semi-final at the 2004 French Open, has a 6-2 career record against Djokovic, including a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 victory in last year’s final.
Djokovic eliminated US eighth seed Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in Thursday’s other quarter-final, the Serbian spurred on by Roddick’s jokes two nights earlier about Djokovic claiming several injuries.
“Andy said I have 16 injuries. Obviously I don’t,” Djokovic said, drawing boos from a crowd dominated by Roddick supporters.
“Like it or not, it’s like that. They are already against me because they think I’m faking everything. That was not nice to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I’m faking it,” he said.
Today’s other semi-final pits Briton Andy Murray against Spanish world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
Federer won the only break of his match in the ninth game of the second set on a forehand winner. Muller denied Federer on three break points in the third set on the way to a tie-break, then grabbed a 4-1 edge before Federer rallied.
“I’m happy I was able to come back and pull it out because it looked like it was going to go four,” Federer said. “When you are down you try to fight and that’s what I tried to do out there.”
Muller upset Russian fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko in the fourth round to become the second qualifier in the US Open final eight after France’s Nicolas Escude in 1999.
“A lot of people think I should be happy but I’m disappointed because I feel like I had my chances and I didn’t take advantage of them,” Muller said.
Djokovic made the most of his chances to down Roddick, who was two points from forcing a fifth set until he double faulted twice to give the Serbian his only break point of the set, which Djokovic duly converted.
Each man held once more to set up the tie-breaker, which went to 5-5 before Roddick netted a backhand volley to give Djokovic match point. The Serbian smacked a service winner and Roddick was done after two hours and 34 minutes.
Djokovic broke Roddick in four of his first eight service games, providing the margin for claiming the first two sets, but Roddick held serve his next nine chances to set up the fourth-set drama.
In the boys singles competition Taiwanese No. 1 seed Yang Tsung-hua defeated Peerakit Siributwong the Thai No. 15 seed 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. In the boys doubles Yang and fellow Taiwanese Hsieh Cheng-peng lost in straight sets to No. 2 seeds Henri Kontinen of Finland, and Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia.
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