Novak Djokovic Proved with Semifinal Win He Can Outduel Rafael Nadal in US Open

Just when you think you have all the answers, Novak Djokovic changes the question.

You might have thought the Djoker was dead after he lost the first set, 6-2. Or perhaps you believed his time in the 2013 US Open was near a close after he lost the third set, 6-3.

Instead, Djokovic pulled through by winning the next two sets, and setting up a dream final against Rafael Nadal, after the Spaniard dispatched Richard Gasquet. It's the sixth time the two will meet in a Grand Slam final (h/t ESPN Stats and Info).

Nadal owns the head-to-head advantage, winning 21 of the 36 meetings. At the US Open, though, the two are even, with Nadal winning in the 2010 final, and Djokovic coming out victorious in the 2011 final.

This is the rubber match fans have been wanting to see for the last two weeks, and now it's just days away.

Although Nadal has the edge and has lost just one set at the US Open, there's that feeling that Djokovic will find a way to do the unthinkable and put an end to Nadal's incredible run.

It's important to point out that 13 of Nadal's 21 wins have come on clay. He's one of the greatest clay-court players ever, so there's no shame in Djokovic's record there.

On hard court, the Djoker has an 11-5 record against his finals opponent, which is much better and more relevant to the situation.

While he hasn't quite been Nadal's equal in the 2013 US Open, Djokovic has run through his opponents easily. The semifinal win over Stanislas Wawrinka, on the other hand, forced him to change his game up, and he rose to the challenge, playing a superb match.

He handled the Swiss' big serve and survived just long enough to enable himself to get a foothold in the later sets.

What Djokovic did so well was to take Wawrinka's best shots early and let him tire himself out.

By the time the fourth set rolled around, Djokovic was in a great position to get the advantage over a physically spent Wawrinka, and once he did, there was no way Wawrinka was getting back into the match.

After Djokovic's five-setter in the semifinal, some might be wondering if fatigue might be a factor in the final. In actuality, he and Nadal have spent about the same amount of time on the court (h/t BBC's Piers Newbury).

Plus, the Djoker will have Sunday to recover. By the time the final rolls around, he'll be ready.

Since making his return earlier in the season, Nadal has been in scintillating form, first-round loss at Wimbledon aside.

But against Djokovic, he's had a very hard time.

Nadal lost the first match between the two in 2013, and then was pushed to the max in the next two meetings, needing five to take out Djokovic at the French Open and then three in Montreal.

It will be a much tougher test than against Wawrinka, but Djokovic's blueprint should be about the same. He has to pick his spots, but mostly he must try and let Nadal tire himself out as the match goes on.

Breaking a service game here or there is also vital.

The margin for error will be razor thin, but Djokovic is the No. 1 player in the world for a reason. At his best, there isn't anybody who can stop him. With his level of fitness, he'll be prepared to go as long as necessary to extinguish Nadal.

The Djoker knows what it takes to win. With the match on hard court and riding the wave of his semifinal win, it will be Djokovic who reigns supreme in Flushing Meadows.