By Bill Scott Sep 14, 2009, 0:00 GMT
New York - Roger Federer chased down a Novak Djokovic lob and fired a back-facing, between-the-legs, cross-court winner to set up three match points Sunday on his way into a sixth consecutive final at the US Open.
Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts after hitting a winner between his legs against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinal match at the 2009 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 13 September 2009. Federer will play Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the men's final. EPA/JUSTIN LANE
The Swiss superstar, who joked that his effort could rank among the best shots of his career, will play Argentine Juan Del Potro Monday in a rain-delayed final.
Federer spanked Djokovic 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-5 to reach a record 21st career Grand Slam title match.
Del Potro denied injured Rafael Nadal a place in a career-first New York final, reaching his own first title contest at a major with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 victory over the Spaniard.
'It was a very difficult match today,' said Nadal, who is suffering with an abdominal muscle pull.
'He played really well today, much better than me. In the first two sets, I had lots of chances to keep the score more tight. But I could do nothing today. I congratulate him.'
Federer, the 15-time Grand Slam champion, even amazed himself with his closing effort against Djokovic, whom he's now beaten in nine of 13 meetings.
'I was in a difficult position. I had nothing to lose,' he said after the win in just over two and a half hours. 'We try to practice that shot, but it never works. Maybe it's the greatest shot I ever hit in my life. It's unbelievable.'
The semi-final was 'an unbelievable match,' Federer said. 'I had a lot of fun today. Novak had a great event himself, so it was good to come through because he was tough.'
Federer and Del Potro will meet as the rain-plagued event stretches into a Monday for the second straight year.
Federer is one win from his 16th Grand Slam title and his third major of the season after winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
He has appeared in 16 of the last 17 Grand Slam finals, missing out only at the 2008 Australian Open, where he was defeated Djokovic in the semis. Federer improved to 21-3 in Grand Slam semi-finals.
Top seed Federer has now won his last 40 matches at Flushing Meadows, where he last lost in 2003 before winning the last five editions. During his win streak, he has lost just 15 sets and been pushed to five sets only twice.
Federer owns Del Potro 6-0 over the last three seasons including three wins in 2009 with a five-setter at Roland Garros.
'He played wonderful today,' Federer said of the 20-year-old. 'He's proved he's a Grand Slam contender. He's not in the final for nothing. I hope we can play a good match.'
Del Potro handed Nadal his first straight-sets loss in a five-set match since the 2008 Australian Open semi-finals, when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat him by a similar margin. Nadal lost to Andy Roddick in straights in the second round six years ago in New York.
Del Potro ended a four-match losing streak to Nadal this spring at Miami and is the only player to have beaten the Spaniard more than once this year.
'I can't believe this,' said the stunned winner. 'It's difficult to speak at the moment. This is my favourite tournament. I cannot believe this moment. I'm so excited. I'm close to achieving my dream to win this tournament.'
Six-time Grand Slam winner Nadal had just under 24 hours to rest for the semi after his quarter-final was not concluded until Friday afternoon during a dry spell amid two days of rain.
Del Potro won his place on Thursday, with two full rest days.
He becomes the sixth Argentine to play a Grand Slam final, following Guillermo Vilas, Guillermo Coria, Gaston Gaudio, Mariano Puerta and David Nalbandian. Vilas won the US Open in 1977, when the event was played on clay.
'This is the best match I've ever played,' said Del Potro, 48-11 on the season.
'I was so focused every moment. Rafa is strong, and he can run for five or six hours if he has to, but I just did my best, and I'm in the final.'
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