Novak Djokovic seeks US Open revenge against Roger Federer
Revenge.
Roger Federer shied away from saying the R-word gave him an extra incentive to defeat Robin Soderling – who upset the Swiss star in the quarters at the French Open earlier this year - in his quarter-final match at the US Open, telling reporters after winning that contest that, “I don't need, you know, revenge to fuel my motivation... I love tennis, and that's enough motivation for me to really get it going on a night like this.”
It’s not a surprising sentiment to hear from the 16-time Grand Slam champion, a player who is customarily as gracious in victory as he is in defeat, and who, after achieving greater success at the majors than any man before him still manages to maintain the hunger for more.
The appointment of Pete Sampras’ former coach, Paul Annacone, to his team following those quarter-final exists and Roland Garros and Wimbledon provides tangible evidence that Federer still has unfinished business on court.
Standing between Federer and a seventh straight US Open final is Novak Djokovic, a player who has now reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows on three previous occasions.
The first was in 2007, when he rolled over then world No. 15 David Ferrer in straight sets to reach his maiden Grand Slam final. Federer dismissed him in straight sets to win the title. In the three years since (including this one) the draw has placed the pair on a semi-final collision course, and in 2008 and 2009, it was Federer who emerged victorious.
So at the fourth time of asking in New York, do those previous defeats provide Djokovic with that extra bit of incentive to win this year? You bet they do.
“Maybe I would like to face Federer,” Djokovic said after defeating Gael Monfils in his quarter-final match, while still awaiting confirmation of his next opponent. “You know, try to look for some revenge.”
And while it’s hard to argue with Federer’s record at the US Open, where he’s been crowned champion five times previously, Djokovic will also know that he can defeat Federer on the big stage.
He’s done it before, first in the final of the Masters 1000 in Canada in 2007 (Djokovic’s first win over Federer) and in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2008, where the world No. 3 went on to win his maiden, and so far only, Grand Slam title.
Federer enters this match with a 10-5 win-loss record against the Serb, and with those losses in mind is understandably respectful of Djokovic’s game.
“I think this [surface] kind of favours his play the most, kind of a faster hard court, because he can pick up some incredible balls, you know, half volley them, redirect them,” Federer said of his opponent. “It helps maybe serve a bit more, and on the return he can, you know, zone in a bit, and all of a sudden he's really tough to pass, you know, when he's returning.
“That's what makes him one of the best players in the game right now, and especially on this surface he's obviously in the top three or four. That's why he's been able to play consistent here at the Open. He's obviously waiting for a breakthrough where he can win this title. But for the last three or four years he's gone through me and he hasn't been able to get it done.”
With the way Federer has been playing at Flushing Meadows in 2010, it’s hard to see Djokovic’s luck changing on Saturday.
Federer’s focus is unwavering, as evidenced by the fact that as the wind swirled around centre court in his quarter-final match, the second seed pounded down 18 aces in a total of 43 unreturned first serves as he finished with a first service percentage of 64% against Soderling.
In Djokovic’s own estimation, Federer is currently playing “the best tennis that he played in this tournament”.
Few would disagree with the third seed’s observations, and if the 2009 runner-up continues in the same vein in his semi-final match, Djokovic is looking at another US Open defeat against the Grand Slam title record holder.
Prediction: Federer to win. Again.
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