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Last month in Montreal, Roger Federer dropped two tie-break sets to fall to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Rogers Cup. But on Sunday afternoon in the final of the US Open it was a far different story, as the Swiss won two tie-breaks en route to an eventual straight-sets win over his Serbian rival, 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4. The win puts his career Grand Slam tally at 12, tied for second on the all-time list. Below is a blow-by-blow account of the final duel between Federer and Djokovic.
Set 1
The two players were solid on serve through the first 10 games of the match, with neither winning more than two points per return game and half of the holds coming at 15. But with Federer walking out to the baseline to serve at 5-all in the 11th game, that stat was about to go out the window.
Federer seemed headed for another comfortable hold, building a 30-15 lead, but it was not to be, as Djokovic hit a forehand down-the-line winner then drew an error off a powerful crosscourt forehand to bring up the first break point of the match. Although the Serb missed a backhand into the net on his first opportunity, a pair of forehand errors from Federer in the next two points would give him a break and an opportunity to serve for the first set.
It certainly looked like Djokovic would grab a one set lead, as he jumped to 40-0 serving up 6-5. But a forehand down-the-line winner from Federer and two straight backhand errors from Djokovic would bring things to deuce. The server would bring up ad-in twice more for his fourth and fifth set points, but backhand errors would again get in the way, and he would eventually double fault to give the break back.
Djokovic earned a 3-2 lead in the tie-break on a netted backhand from Federer but dropped the next four points in a row - two of them on backhand errors - to allow Federer his first shot at a set point. The Serb saved the first upon grinding out a long baseline rally, but then hit his fifth double fault of the set to grant an elated Federer the tie-break, 7-4, and a one set lead in the 2007 US Open final.
Set 2
Overall, the second set was similar to the first set, although this time the break of Federer's service would come far earlier. Serving at 1-2, Federer went down 15-40, and although he saved one break point on another netted Djokovic backhand, a long backhand volley would grant his opponent the break. Djokovic held serve for a 4-1 lead and even threatened in Federer's next service game, winning two of the first three points - but the Swiss World No. 1 would pull the game out and close to 2-4.
It was in the seventh game of the set that Federer broke the serve of Djokovic at love, winning the last two points on two long backhands from Djokovic. The two held serve for the next three games and Federer again saved set points in a pre-tie-break game; serving 5-6, he rallied back from a 15-40 hole in that game, saving the first set point with a big ace and the second on a forehand from his opponent that landed out. The two would again head to a tie-break.
The second set tie-break was all Federer. From 2-all he raced away, an inside out forehand and a down-the-line backhand pass - his 17th and 18th winners of the set - earning him the last two points of a 7-2 tie-break victory, a triumphant yell and fist pump punctuating the now-two-sets-to-none advantage.
Set 3
Federer began the third set on fire, holding his serve at love on the strength of three winners (one forehand down the line, one backhand down the line and an ace) and one misfire from his opponent. But Djokovic was still giving himself a lot of opportunities, including triple break point at 2-all, but another slew of unforced errors from the backhand helped Federer hold in that game. They seemed headed for a third tie-break, but Federer had different ideas - when Djokovic double-faulted at 4-5 and deuce to bring up match point. Only an inside out forehand winner from the Serb kept him in the match. But from there his backhand wing again came back to haunt him, as he misfired once to bring out a second match point, then fluffed a drop shot into the net to give Federer his fourth straight US Open crown.
Federer finished with a +8 differential of winners to unforced errors (42 winners to 34 unforced errors) while Djokovic finished at -8 (32 to 40). Both had impressive service numbers but perhaps most important was the difference between break point conversion rates: Federer was 60% (three-for-five) and Djokovic 22% (two-in-nine). Federer also maintained his stellar record in tie-breaks in Grand Slam finals; he is now 13-2 (2-0 at the Australian Open, 0-1 at Roland Garros, 7-1 at Wimbledon, and now 4-0 at the US Open).
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Federer: "It's funny because we played in Montreal and it was a similar situation. There, I served for the first set at 6-5, 40-0. This time around he had it, and I came back. I got the momentum in the tie-break and I won. It's crazy, if you think about it, how similar the matches were. But this time it swung my way. In Montreal, I missed a few shots, he hit a few good shots, and all of a sudden he was back in the set. This time around, I did it. But I felt it was getting really tense. I was quite surprised I still got out of that game. Obviously it was key that I won the first set.
"I thought I played well when I had to. I've played better matches in the past, no doubt. But it was a big moment and there was pressure on both of us. He made it hard for me in the beginning. All in all, I'm very happy with my performance."
Djokovic: "In the important moments, especially in that first set when I was serving at 40-0, I was in a good position and everything was good - suddenly I just started making these unforced errors, which are really not understandable. And then I was quite nervous, a lot of pressure, and I knew I had to make some shots. Obviously that was a mistake because I just needed to calm down and wait for my chances.
"I think I was mentally weaker today on the important points, and he was mentally stronger. I think that was my mistake and my weakness today."
Saturday: Federer Reaches 10th Straight Slam Final; Djokovic Next
Thursday: Ferrer, Djokovic Complete Semifinal Line-Up
Wednesday: Federer One Step Closer to 10th Straight Slam Final
Wednesday: Davydenko First Into Final Four After Win Over Haas
Tuesday: Djokovic Passes Monaco Test; Nadal Ousted by Ferrer
Tuesday: Moya Wins Generation Battle; Chela Edges into QFs
Monday: Federer Goes On Serving Tear, Ousts Lopez in Four
Monday: Roddick First Into Quarterfinals; Haas, Davydenko Also Win
Sunday: Djokovic Cruises Into First US Open Second Week
Sunday: Nadal Rolls Past Tsonga; Second Week Line-Up Takes Shape
Saturday: Federer Passes Isner Test; Blake Escapes in Four Sets
Saturday: Davydenko, Roddick Storm into Last 16
Friday: Henman Bids Farewell to New York; Hewitt, Safin Fall
Friday: Djokovic Fights Past Stepanek in Match of the Day
Thursday: Blake Beats Santoro in Night-time Thriller
Thursday: Roddick Notches Birthday Win; Berdych, Murray Advance
Wednesday: Federer Cruises Past Capdeville, Isner Up Next
Wednesday: Nadal Struggles in Opener; Gabashvili Ousts Gonzalez
Tuesday: Roddick, Gimelstob Put On Show in Gimelstob's Farewell
Tuesday: Djokovic Sends Warning to Rivals; Blake, Hewitt Advance
Monday: Federer Advances; Americans Young, Isner Impress
Monday: Mirnyi Defeats Baghdatis for First Upset
- Copyright © ATP Tour, Inc. 2007
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