Sep 6, 2008, 18:25 GMT
New York - Roger Federer moved to within one victory of an historic run of titles at the US Open as he won a replay of last year's final 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 over Novak Djokovic on Saturday.
With rain threatening for the afternoon, officials began the match at 11 a.m. in order to beat what was forecast of approaching weather from a tropical storm moving up the Atlantic coast.
Federer will play on Sunday for his fifth straight trophy at Flushing Meadows against either top seed Rafael Nadal or Briton Andy Murray.
Federer's popular victory was his 33rd straight in New York and marked his 160th win at a Grand Slam.
'I prefer the trophy, that's what I prefer,' Federer said when asked which opponent he would wish to face for a possible 13th Grand Slam title.
'I'm so excited to be back in another final, I've worked hard all season to do well in the big ones. It would be great to get another one here,' he said after firing 20 aces for the afternoon.
The second seed maintained his record of never having lost at the final four stage at Flushing Meadows; each time that he has reached the semis he's gone onto win the title.
The Swiss was playing in his 18th successive Grand Slam semi-final and saved himself a possible drop to the number three ranking had Djokovic gone onto win the trophy.
The victory win just under three hours left Federer with a 7-2 record over Djokovic, who defeated him in the Australian Open semi-finals as the Swiss suffered with glandular fever.
That upset ended Federer's run of 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals.
'I had a great start in tough conditions,' said the winner. 'We were expecting wind but I'm glad I got my match through. I hope Rafa and Andy can do the same and we have a fair final on Sunday.
'My serve saved me many times. It was a tough victory - but one more is all that I need.'
Federer took early charge against his Serb opponent by sweeping the opening set 6-3 before Djokovic began to settle in.
The third seed went up a break in the fourth game for a 3-1 margin but got it back to level-pegging three games later from a forehand error. Despite starting two game with double faults, Djokovic stayed in touch.
The Serb squared the match after heavy effort after the Swiss saved two set points before sending a forehand long.
As wind began to pick up under cloudy skies, the contest stayed tight, with Federer patiently awaiting his chance. It came in the 11th game, with a Djokovic volley at the net sailing long to give the Swiss a 6-5 lead.
One set point in the next game was saved as Djokovic caught the line by a hair, but Federer took a two-set-to-love lead on his second chance after just over two hours on court.
The Swiss put early pressure on the Serb, with that strategy paying off in the fifth game when Federer took a 3-2 lead as a Djokovic return struck the top of the net and sailed wide.
With the finishing line in sight, Federer lifted his mighty serve even higher, sealing a 4-2 lead with a 19th ace, with his unforced error count totalling a mere one in the fourth set.
Djokovic's body language showed that the Serb was on the ropes. He began speeding up the pace to no avail, losing a second consecutive service game to put Federer within one game of a place in the final.
Djokovic lost heart late in the third set when a fan yelling disrupted his serve; he was never the same player again as the Swiss closed it out.
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