NEW YORK — So much for Rafa vs. Roger in the U.S. Open final.
Novak Djokovic prevented what would have been the eighth Grand Slam championship match between tennis’ top two men — and first such showdown at Flushing Meadows — by saving two match points and coming back to stun Roger Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in Saturday’s semifinals.
“One of those matches you’ll always remember,” Djokovic said.
It means that the third-seeded Djokovic will be standing between No. 1 Rafael Nadal and a career Grand Slam in the final today. Nadal owns eight major titles but never had been past the semifinals at the U.S. Open before beating No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 earlier Saturday.
Federer had reached six consecutive finals at the U.S. Open, winning five trophies from 2004-08, but he repeatedly let leads slip away this time. Federer took the first set against Djokovic, then the third. And even after Djokovic forced a fifth set, Federer twice was a single point from winning.
With the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium trying to will Federer to victory — probably because of the tantalizing prospect of a final between him and Nadal — the owner of a record 16 Grand Slam titles couldn’t close the deal.
“They all pretty much feel the same: You feel so empty at the end, I guess, because you tried everything,” said Federer, who hadn’t dropped a set all tournament before Saturday, but was hurt by 66 unforced errors, 28 more than Djokovic.
U.S. Open/glance
Weather: Sunny and beautiful. High of 77 degrees.
Attendance: 23,771 for the day.
Today on TV: ESPN2, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. (women’s doubles final); KCNC-4, 2-5 p.m. (men’s singles final).
