10 September 2009
Djokovic battles into semi-finals
Fourth seed Novak Djokovic survived a tough encounter with Fernando Verdasco to win 7-6 (7-2) 1-6 7-5 6-2 and reach his third straight US Open semi-final.
Djokovic saved two set points before taking the opener in a tie-break. Verdasco stormed back to level but was edged out of the third and was hampered by injury as Djokovic sealed victory. Defending champion Roger Federer or Robin Soderling, who meet under the floodlights later on Wednesday, will face Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Federer has ended Djokovic’s hopes of success at Flushing Meadows in each of the last two years, beating the 22-year-old Serb in the final in 2007 and in the last four 12 months ago. But whoever he plays next, Djokovic will know he needs to produce a more consistent performance than he did against Verdasco if he is to reach Sunday’s final.
The Spaniard’s thumping forehand gave Djokovic plenty of problems and, had he not been affected by an abdominal injury in the latter stages of the match, Verdasco might not have faded so badly. Djokovic was let down by his forehand in the first set and needed two big serves to save two set points at 4-5 before finally finding some fluency in the tie-break. Verdasco came back brilliantly, reproducing the form he showed to reach the last four at the Australian Open in January and hitting some huge winners to break three times and run away with the second set.
The world number four was rocking and looked in serious trouble when he faced another break point at the start of the third set but, for once, Verdasco did not go on the attack and the chance was gone.
Both players continued to go for their shots as the match wore on but it was Djokovic who struck at the right time, breaking at 5-5 and serving out for the set. Verdasco fought on, saving three break points at the start of the fourth set, but he was soon calling for the trainer after aggravating an old injury and looked in pain as he lost the next four games, and with them any hope of victory.