Roger Federer ends Novak Djokovic’s streak; makes it to the title match – French Open 2011
Swiss maestro Roger Federer ended the impressive 43 match winning streak of Serbian juggernaut Novak Djokovic as he did away with the world number two in four sets in the semi-final of the 2011 Roland Garros in Paris, France on Friday, June 3rd.
The Swiss took almost four hours to register a 7-6(5), 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) victory over the Serb.
The titans clash for the fourth time this year – twenty third for their career; with Federer leading the head-to-head 13-9. However, in all their three meetings this year, Djokovic has managed to outclass the maestro. Nevertheless, the Swiss’s recent form had made him a favourite for a win here.
A tough start for Djokovic, as the Swiss rushes to break the Serb in the very first game. However, no pushover himself, the Serb breaks back in the second game to bring the score on even terms. Forcing errors on Federer on the Swiss’ own serve, Djokovic clinched a lucky break to lead the score 4-2. A determined Federer broke back in the seventh game to remove the Serb’s advantage as he moved on to once more bring the score on even terms at four games each. Serving at 4-5, Federer saved two breakpoints to level the game score once more.
A successful hold of their serves forced the opener into a tiebreaker. A superb drop shot from Federer and long forehand from Djokovic put the Swiss in a 3-1 lead in the tiebreaker. However, fighting back hard, Djokovic managed to level the score at 4-4 as he forced errors on the Swiss. A long forehand from the Serb at 5-5 and then a into-the-net shot gave Federer the tiebreaker at 7-5.
The Swiss took almost seventy minutes as he capitalised on the Serb’s ten unforced errors and hit twenty three winners, including four aces to go one up in the set score.
Second set started on the same competitive note as the first as both players held their serves comfortably. However, unforced errors from Djokovic in the third game gave Federer the coveted break as he led the score 3-1, only to extend it to 4-1 on his serve minutes later. Although Federer squandered three break points in the eighth game, he held his serve comfortably in the ninth to clinch the set 6-3, securing a 2-0 lead in the set score.
Bouncing back in the third set, Djoker started to reform as he broke the Swiss early to clinch an early 3-0 lead, extending it to 4-1 a few moments later. Serving for the set at 5-3, Djoker reduced the set score deficit as he clinched a 6-3 victory, without losing a single point in the ninth game.
The fourth set followed pretty much the same note with both players comfortably holding their serves, keeping the scoreboard ticking on even terms. An errant Federer gave Djoker the lucky break in the ninth game putting him in the position to serve for the set at 5-4. However, squandering the opportunity, Djokovic allowed Federer to break back and level the score at five games each. A successful hold of their own serves in the next two games forced the set into the second tiebreaker of the match. A neck-to-neck run in the tiebreaker kept the score tied for the first six points. A powerful ace from Federer put him 5-3 in the lead, which he later extended to 6-3. Serving for the set at 6-5, Federer sent another ace down the line to clinch the set and seal his victory.
Federer moves on ahead to play Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the title match on Sunday, June 5th.
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