“It's probably, under the circumstances, the greatest victory I had in 2011,” Djokovic said after the match. That was a bold statement considering he has only lost two matches all year.
Both players came out a little tight, but neither gave an inch, each holding serve until the third game of the second set. As he has done this entire tournament, Djokovic came out a little slow the first two sets, allowing Federer to attack his backhand.
The third and fourth set were owned by Djokovic, as the five-time Champion Federer cooled off and could not find his rhythm. “You have to figure that Novak was going get his teeth into the match at one stage, right? It's a pity that it happened then, because I think I had a couple of game points, too. It hurts getting broken that way,” Federer said after the match.
The beginning of the fifth set was as evenly matched as the billing, with both men holding serve. It was Djokovic who blinked first. In the eighth game, with Federer up 4–3, Djokovic double faulted, and then gave up the game on an unforced error. Federer was able to serve for the match at 5–3, but Djokovic broke his serve.
Federer was unable to keep the lead, allowing Djokovic to claim the next three games, putting him in the US Open finals for the first time and extending his dream season.
“It's obvious that this is the best year of my career, by far. The confidence level is very high at this moment.”
Djokovic will face Rafael Nadal, who beat Andy Murray for the right to defend his US Open title.
They will play on Monday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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