Djokovic started out the semifinal match with a string of unforced errors, which quickly cost him the first set after 25 minutes. But he cleaned up his game by the beginning of the second to level the match at a set apiece. The Serb matched Federer's intensity through the third, but a break in favor of the Swiss man late in the set put a stop to Djokovic's momentum, and Federer coasted through the rest of the match in convincing form.
Federer came into this semifinal match on fire, running Djokovic along the baseline with an attacking game, hitting winners consistently and passing the Serb when he came in to the net. Under cloudy and dark skies, Federer maintained a high level of play over four sets, only dropping the second in a close contest before claiming a 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 victory. .
Early in the second set, Djokovic broke Federer to take a 3-1 lead after dropping the first set. The Serb came out with a cleaner game, cutting down on his unforced errors. And though Djokovic found himself down at 0-30, 4-4 on his serve, he dug himself out of a hole and held on for 5-4. Djokovic broke Federer again to take the second set, but he could not keep up that same high level of play for the rest of the match.
Both Federer and Djokovic displayed top-quality tennis for the first three sets, with Federer taking a 2-1 set lead. But at 2-2 in the fourth set, Djokovic failed to win another game, thanks to a number of unforced errors. Federer broke the Serb in two straight service games, allowing the Swiss No. 2 to serve out the match.
In this re-match of the 2008 Australian Open semifinal, Djokovic committed 47 unforced errors, including five double faults.
Federer was in top form against Djokovic, hitting 51 winners and only committing 28 unforced errors. He tallied only three unforced errors during the opening set.
Djokovic leaves the US Open having still not won a hard-court title this summer. His record against Federer now slips to 2-7.
Federer's semifinal win marked his 33rd consecutive victory at the US Open, with his last loss coming against David Nalbandian in the 2003 round of 16. Federer will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray for the championship. Should the Swiss man take the title, it will be his fifth straight US Open trophy.
At the beginning of the third set, an announcer in Arthur Ashe stated that the second semifinal match between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray was about to begin on Louis Armstrong Stadium. With seats on a first-come, first-serve basis, some fans scurried to the exits for a chance to get good seats in the more intimate setting of Armstrong.
The audience in Arthur Ashe cheered both players throughout the match, but it was clear that the slight favorite was, in fact, the four-time defending champion Federer.
