Roger Federer To Face Novak Djokovic In Semi

2 months ago 10th Sep 13:24

Roger Federer has made it to the U.S. Open semi-final seeing off a spirited fight back from Robin Soderling.

It was a repeat of the French Open Final under the floodlights of Flushing Meadows last night as Federer was going for his twelfth win over the Swede.

And Federer looked in no mood to hang around as he took the first set in just twenty five minutes as Soderling failed to hold onto his serve once.

He made a better show of himself in the second set but he was just unable to live with Federer's game as the world number one dominated every aspect of play.

Wrapping up the second set 6-3 it looked like another straight sets win over Soderling was on the cards.

But the big hitting Swede had other ideas as he began to challenge Federer in the third set pushing him to a tie-break.

And it was a tie break that Federer dominated opening up a 5-2 lead, just two points from a place in the semi-final.

But Soderling's fight back was not yet complete as he dug and won four consecutive points on his way to cutting Federer's lead to just one set.

Into the fourth and it followed the same pattern as the third once again going to a tie break. And this time Soderling didin't fall behind.

With some great play the Swede had a 6-5 lead and was on the verge of levelling the match. But he failed to capitalise on his opportunity as he handed Federer match point with two unforced errors.

Federer pounced on the chances to seal a 6-0 6-3 6-7 (8-6) 7-6 (8-6) win.

He will now face world number four Novak Djokovic as he came through a tough match with Spain's Fernando Verdasco earlier in the day.

Both men seemed reluctant to break each others serve in the opening set, despite chances, and the opener went to a tie break.

Although not on top form Djokovic dominated the tie break to take the set and the lead. But Verdasco stepped up the pace and bossed the second set breaking the world number four as he began to struggle with his serve.

No tie break was needed this time as Verdasco pulled level with an impressive 6-1 set. Djokovic's concentration and game returned and the pair we all square at 5-5 but it was Djokovic that struck to break and once again move ahead.

But Verdasco had to call the trainer for treatment on an abdominal strain, similar to the injury sustained by compatriot Rafael Nadal earlier in the week, and his game began to fade.

Djokovic broke Verdasco early to in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Verdasco won just one more game before Djokovic wrapped up a 7-6 (7-2) 1-6 7-5 6-2 victory.