(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Queens, New York—If there is one highlighted day on every player's calender throughout the course of a season, it's Super Saturday at the U.S. Open. The toughest weekend in tennis brings forth the daunting task of having to play back-to-back semifinals and a final match in order to rule New York.
This year however, inclement weather has caused havoc with the schedule and the men's semifinals has been postponed to Sunday. Super Sunday? Lame, I know, but it had to be said.
Rafael Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez remain the lone quarterfinal match to be finished, which will hopefully take place on Saturday. Thus far, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro have secured their semifinal spots in the last Major of the year and remain cozy and clear-minded in the their hotel rooms in Manhattan.
Roger Federer knows a thing or two about winning on the final weekend in NYC, and the five-time defending champ will headline the semifinal cast when play finally resumes. With three days of rest and his six title in mind (a record if he can win it), Federer will be ready to go when the rain subsides.
Novak Djokovic looks sharp once again after a period in which his game and confidence was abandoned. The fight and fun seem to be back in the Serb's vocabulary. Djokovic will be attempting to win his first Open title, and inch his way closer to the No. 2 ranking in the world.
With a lot on the line and the cream of the crop on full display this weekend in Ashe Stadium, let's take a look at the first confirmed semifinal match, while we await the opponent of del Potro.
Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic
Federer leads 8-4 in H2H meetings, which includes a 6-3 winning mark on hard-courts.
For the third year in a row, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will meet up in the latter stages of the U.S. Open. In 2007, Federer defeated Djokovic in the final round for his fourth straight title. In 2008, Federer ousted Djokovic in semifinal hurdle on the road to his fifth straight crown.
The '09 edition of this pair's rivalry should bring forth yet another chapter of high-level tennis.
Djokovic has got the better of Federer on two of three occasions this year, defeating the Swiss in both the semifinals of Miami and Roma. Federer exacted revenge on Djokovic by winning the recent final in Cincinnati.
Thus far in the event, both players have appeared in top-notch form. Federer had a relative scare in his quarterfinal win over Robin Soderling, having to fight off a set point in the forth set, preventing what would have been his fourth five-set match in New York. Federer is playing his 10th Open Championships.
Djokovic has played solid when he's needed to throughout the fortnight. The loss of two sets up until this stage is a good indicator that the Serb is rounding into form.
Djokovic survived a scare against Fernando Verdasco in the previous round, and could have very well lost to the Spaniard if the latter had not suffered from micro tears in his stomach.
The No. 4 seed will need to step up his aggressive foundation if he is to prevail against Federer.
It is too late for Djokovic to suddenly adapt to a bigger hitting mentally?
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