NOTEBOOK: Djokovic father brings distinctive look to player box

Sep 11, 2010, 16:21 GMT

New York - Novak Djokovic's unpredictable father Srdjan has been hard to miss for television cameras at the US Open with his special 'Nole' t-shirt honouring his third-seeded son.

The semi-final with Roger Federer will be the sixth time the shirt has been on display in the player box. The garment features an half life-sized image of Djokovic's head and torso, with the player actually wearing another t-shirt - featuring a screaming eagle.

That kind of showmanship from the mountain pizza restaurant owner would be out of place on anyone but Djokovic. Uncle Toni Nadal or Robert Federer would surely never attempt a similar stunt.

The shirt is the latest wrinkle from a family which has often decorated Grand Slams by sitting in a row wearing shirts spelling out 'N-O-L-E.'

The choice of attire obviously dozens not meet with full approval from Novak: 'He's a proud father, what can I say. I don't know exactly where he got his fancy shirt -- it was somewhere in Belgrade.

'But he's my father and, if he wants to wear this shirt, he can wear this shirt. I would never wear the shirt. I don't like myself that much.'

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NOTEBOOK: Verdasco says Federer can win it all again in New York =

New York (dpa) - Spain's Fernando Verdasco is so impressed by the game of Roger federer that he's tipping the Swiss to win a potential US Open final against Rafael Nadal.

But the number two and number one pair in the world still have one step to go before any dream date, with Federer playing a semi-final against Novak Djokovic and Nadal facing Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

With broadcasts and organisers salivating at the prospect of the best in the world finally meeting in a Grand Slam final on hard court, speculation is never far from the surface.

'If I'm not wrong, I think that he will play the final against Roger. It's going to be a tough match, because I think Roger plays really good in these (ultra-windy) conditions,' said Verdasco after being crushed by Nadal in the semis.

'If I was to bet, I'd bet for Roger. He has won here five times here and he likes these conditions.'