NEW YORK — Facing two match points against a beloved player whose name is already in the history books, Novak Djokovic clenched his jaw, nodded his head and flashed an ever-so-slight glimpse of a smile.
“I would lie if I say I didn’t think I’m going to lose,” Djokovic said.
Might as well go down swinging then, right?
He turned violently on a wide, 108-mph serve from Roger Federer for a cross-court, forehand winner that barely nicked the line. The fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium, ready to explode for a Federer victory, instead found themselves taking a cue from Djokovic – who raised his hands, asking them to pump up the volume, and give him a little more love.
About 10 minutes later, those fans were dancing with Djoko as he boogied at center court to celebrate an epic U.S. Open semifinal win – one in which he dug out of a two-set hole, then saved two match points to beat Federer for the second straight year.
Top-seeded Djokovic won, 6-7 (7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5, Saturday to improve to 63-2 on the year and set up a rematch in Monday’s final against No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who beat No. 4 Andy Murray, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, in the second semifinal.
In the first match, Djokovic completed only his second career comeback from two sets down, while Federer lost a two-set lead for the second time in less than three months after going 178-0 lifetime before this year’s Wimbledon quarterfinals.
It all turned on one shot.
“The forehand return, I cannot explain to you because I don’t know how it happened,” Djokovic said. “I read his serve and I was on the ball and I had to hit it hard, and it got in, luckily for me.”
Djokovic said the match was definitely the biggest of the year and “one of the biggest wins of the career under the circumstances.”
In the headlining night session, Serena Williams hit 11 aces in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki that left Williams one win away from her 14th Grand Slam title.
This was Williams’ first appearance in the U.S. Open semifinals since 2009, when a foot-fault call led to a tirade against the referee that cost her match point against Kim Clijsters.
Wozniacki’s loss left No. 9 Sam Stosur as the last player with a chance to stop No. 28 Williams at a tournament in which she has lost a grand total of 29 games over six matches and hasn’t dropped a set. Stosur beat Angelique Kerber, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, to reach her second Grand Slam final. They’ll have a quick turnaround and play today, with Williams going for her fourth U.S. Open championship on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
“It meant a lot to me to come out here as an American and still be in the tournament,” Williams said. “I really wanted to play tomorrow. Such a special day for the United States, so I’m really excited.”
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