Nole is through to his fourth straight US Open final and fifth overall!
The top seed of the last Major event of the season rallied from a set down twice to defeat ninth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in four hours and 9 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Novak suffered three service breaks in the first set, while breaking back once, to fall behind 2-6 in 34 minutes.
Djokovic was a break down in the second set, but fought back to 4-all and forced a tiebreaker. He won it 7-4 with a blistering cross court forehand return winner.
A couple of errors from Novak in the eighth game of the third set handed Wawrinka three break points. The Swiss took his chance and sealed it 6-3.
The Serbian world no.1 broke his opponent in the second game of the fourth set and kept the advantage to win it 6-3 and level the match.
After failing to capitalise on five break point opportunities in a 21-minute ‘edge of the seat’ third game, Nole finally broke Stan in the fifth game of the deciding set and held to increase his lead to 4-2. He served out the match four games later to clinch his 50th win in 2013.
“These matches is what we live for, what we practice for,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview. “I think it was obvious Stan played more aggressive; he played better tennis over all. 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.”
Match statistics: aces (9-8), double faults (6-7), winners (38-57), unforced errors (46-69), total points won (165-165).
Novak will be playing in his third Grand Slam final of the season and 12th of his career (6-5) when he faces second-seeded Rafael Nadal in the title match on Monday (17.00 local time / 23.00 CET). They will square off for the 37th time (15-21).
The Spaniard ousted Richard Gasquet in straight sets in the second semi-final of the day.
Djokovic will remain world no.1 after the US Open. It will be his 98th week on top.
Photo: Getty Images
