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Photo: Getty Images
On Saturday, September 10, we will witness the 24th meeting between Nole and Roger.
In another blockbuster duel, the top seed and last year’s runner-up Novak Djokovic will take on a five-time US Open champion Roger Federer in the final four of the last Major tournament in 2011.
This will be Nole’s fifth successive US Open semi-final.
Djokovic won 9 matches out of 23 he played against the Swiss. This year, the 24-year-old Serb defeated Roger three times, in the semi-finals of Australian Open, finals of Dubai and semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, and fell in the semis of Roland Garros.
You can see results of their previous encounters here.
En route to the semi-final in New York, Novak eliminated Conor Niland, Carlos Berlocq, Nikolay Davydenko, Aleksandr Dolgopolov and Janko Tipsarevic.
Federer beat Santiago Giraldo, Dudi Sela, Marin Cilic, Juan Monaco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Both players have lost one set at the event so far, Nole to his fellow Serbian Tipsarevic, Roger to Croat Marin Cilic.
Novak reached the final for the first time in 2007, losing to Federer, and again last year, falling to Rafael Nadal.
The world no.1, who has a 62-2 record on the season, is bidding to become the sixth man in the Open Era to win three major titles in the same year. He defeated Andy Murray in the Australian Open final and Nadal at Wimbledon.
Nole played a brilliant semi-final clash with Federer at Flushing Meadows last year, when he saved two match points before winning a five-set thriller 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in 3 hours and 44 minutes.
Saturday’ semi-final will be the pair’s fourth successive meeting at the last-four stage in New York.
Nole’s only concern is starting too slowly against Federer.
“I think I need to step on the court and just be close to the line, be more aggressive,” Novak said. “I think the last two matches I have been starting very slow. I’m very passive.”
“Novak is the biggest challenge in tennis right now and I’m up for it,” said Roger. “I’m playing well and I’m really looking forward to playing him. I think when we do play against each other it’s always exciting. We have great rallies against each other. You know, I like playing against him because it’s a battle of the baseline. He’s been having an amazing season so far, so it’s a challenge right now in the men’s game.”
The second semi-final sees world no.2 Rafael Nadal take on fourth-seeded Andy Murray.
The winners will enjoy Sunday off after the final was pushed back to Monday for a fourth successive year following two days being lost to the schedule due to torrential rain.
Good luck Nole!
