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Djokovic Outlasts Wawrinka to Reach U.S. Open Final Another Five-Set Thriller for Wawrinka, Another Win for Djokovic
(about 1 hour later)
It is becoming possible to lose count of Novak Djokovic’s epic tennis matches. It is as if he was born in Belgrade, Serbia, to push his and others’ limits, and he was at it again in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday in the United States Open men’s semifinals. It is becoming possible to lose count of Novak Djokovic’s epic tennis matches. It is as if he were born in Belgrade, Serbia, to push his and others’ limits, and he was at it again in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday in the United States Open men’s semifinals.
His co-conspirator was once again Stanislas Wawrinka, the same sturdy Swiss outsider who pushed Djokovic to 12-10 in the fifth set in January in the fourth round of the Australian Open.His co-conspirator was once again Stanislas Wawrinka, the same sturdy Swiss outsider who pushed Djokovic to 12-10 in the fifth set in January in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
They played a fifth-set tiebreaker in New York, but though Wawrinka did his best — playing astonishingly bold and convincing tennis for large patches of this marathon — he could not quite push Djokovic to the limit. They play a fifth-set tiebreaker in New York, but though Wawrinka pushed and pushed — playing astonishingly bold and convincing tennis for large patches of this marathon — he could not quite push Djokovic to the limit.
Despite struggling by his lofty standards with his serving, clutch returning and composure, the No. 1-seeded Djokovic did what he has done so well for the last three seasons: stretch, push and keep seeking solutions in the face of inspired opposition. Despite struggling by his lofty standards with his serving, clutch returning and composure, the No. 1-seeded Djokovic did what he has done so well for the last three seasons: stretch, strain and keep seeking solutions in the face of inspired opposition and his own peaks and valleys.
His latest reward was 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory that earned him a spot in Monday’s final against the winner of Saturday’s second semifinal between Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet. His latest reward was a come-from-behind 2-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory that required 4 hours 9 minutes in the sunshine and earned him a spot in Monday’s final against the winner of Saturday’s second semifinal between Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet.
“These matches is what we live for, what we practice for,” Djokovic said.“These matches is what we live for, what we practice for,” Djokovic said.
It will be the fourth consecutive United States Open final and the fifth over all for Djokovic, a resourceful and elastic 26-year-old Serb who won the title here in 2011. It will be the fourth consecutive United States Open final and the fifth over all for Djokovic, the resourceful and elastic 26-year-old Serbian who won the title here in 2011.
“I think it was obvious Stan played more aggressive; he played better tennis over all,” Djokovic said. “I was just trying to hang in there, trying to adjust. It was not an easy match for both of us. I had to run a lot, find my rhythm in this wind. I wasn’t playing as well as I wanted to, but all the credit to him for playing so aggressive and playing so well. I’m just so fortunate to be able to play my best tennis when I needed to.”“I think it was obvious Stan played more aggressive; he played better tennis over all,” Djokovic said. “I was just trying to hang in there, trying to adjust. It was not an easy match for both of us. I had to run a lot, find my rhythm in this wind. I wasn’t playing as well as I wanted to, but all the credit to him for playing so aggressive and playing so well. I’m just so fortunate to be able to play my best tennis when I needed to.”
Djokovic was far from his best tennis in the early going, losing three of his first four service games and making four double faults in the process. The first set soon belonged to Wawrinka, who, despite struggling with his own first-serve percentage, did not look the least bit cowed by his first Grand Slam singles semifinal.
Wawrinka has found a new gear in 2013 and has continued to accelerate since joining forces with a new coach, Magnus Norman, during the season. Norman, a heavy hitter from Sweden who was ranked as high as No. 2, was able to help transform the veteran Robin Soderling from a dangerous outsider into a regular Grand Slam contender.
Norman appears within reach of managing the same difficult transition with Wawrinka, a 28-year-old who has long played in the long shadow of his compatriot Roger Federer.
Federer, in the midst of a difficult season at age 32, was beaten here in the fourth round by Tommy Robredo. But it was hard not to think of Federer on Saturday, and not just because his co-coach Severin Luethi, captain of the Swiss Davis Cup team, was sitting in Wawrinka’s player box.
Federer and Djokovic had made a habit of playing United States Open semifinals on this court. They played four in a row from 2008 to 2011, with Federer winning the first two and Djokovic winning the last two in five sets after saving two match points in each.
Djokovic never got that close to the brink against Wawrinka, succeeding despite all the angst the match created.