US OPEN 2011: Roger Federer faces Novak Djokovic in the semifinal, defeated Tsonga en straight sets

Roger Federer (SUI)[3] returns to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)[11] ] during a men's singles quarterfinals match on Day 11 of the US Open

Federer sails to set up clash with Djokovic


Thursday, September 8, 2011

His forehand whizzing through court, his serve operating on every angle and a firey spark returned to his game, Roger Federer was back to his former self on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night, dispatching Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in surprisingly easy fashion, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

And his reward? A semifinal meeting with Novak Djokovic, the hottest player on the ATP Tour in 2011.

But before the predictions can be made on a dream match-up between Federer and Djokovic (Fed owns a 14-9 record against the world No.1), tennis fans were served well on Thursday to notice the kind of tennis the 30-year-old Federer can produce.

Spanking forehands from every corner of the court, the 16-time Grand Slam champion ran through a player that had beaten him in recent meetings, including a come-from-behind win at Wimbledon earlier this year.

While Federer owned a 4-3 match record coming into tonight against Tsonga, the Frenchman had won their last two affairs, both of them high-profile events. At Wimbledon, Tsonga surged back to beat Federer in the quarterfinals and then dismantled the former world No. 1 at the Montreal Masters 1000 event last month in the third round.

"I played great," Federer said plainly after his win. "I'm very happy with the way I'm playing and the way I'm moving. I'm enjoying myself out on the court."

And he should have been. After a nearly two-hour rain delay sent the players into the lockerroom, Federer fought back after Tsonga broke him to even the first set. At 5-4, Federer played a delicate drop shot that the No. 11 seed couldn't handle and then laced a crosscourt forehand winner to set up three set points. At 40-0, Federer served an unreturnable bomb, taking it 6-4 in just 38 minutes.

Federer, who won five straight US Opens between 2004 and 2008, has reached just one major final in the six Slams he's competed in recently. In that same five-year period, Federer won 12 of 20 majors he entered, and last won a Grand Slam at the 2010 Australian Open, where he beat Tsonga in the semifinals before taking out Andy Murray in the final.

After taking a two-break lead in the second set, Federer looks to briefly let the 26-year-old Tsonga in, overhitting his forehand at times. But the errors continued for Tsonga, who 34 of them total for the match. Another came on set point in the second, sending a forehand long to fall two sets down.

There would be no Wimbledon-like comeback for Tsonga, who had taken out American Mardy Fish in the fourth round. He double faulted to fall down 3-5 and then couldn't handle a final blazing Federer forehand, pushing a backhand long to wrap up the match in one hour, 53 minutes.

"Everytime he loses people say he is done," Tsonga said after the match. "But to me, he is a great player."

Federer faces Djokovic in the semifinal, who advanced in his quarterfinal earlier in the day thanks to a fourth-set retirement from countryman Janko Tipsarevic. Djokovic had dropped his first set of the tournament against the 20th seed, but won nine straight games before Tipsarevic pulled out while trailing, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (3), 6-0, 3-0. Djokovic has lost just 37 games in five matches, his on court time the least of any player thus far in the tournament, totalling nine hours, 16 minutes.

"Being here in New York and having the support of the crowd is an amazing feeling," Federer said. "I've been here for many years and all of the hard work seems to be paying off."

Federer leads their match-ups 14-9 overall, including a 5-3 edge at Slams. At last year's Open, Djokovic downed Federer 7-5 in a fifth set semifinal.

"I'm looking forward [to facing Djokovic]," Federer added. Federer gave Djokovic one of his two losses of the year, beating him in the semifinals of the French Open.

"He's the biggest challenge in tennis right now and I'm up for it," said Federer. "I'm playing well and I'm really looking forward to playing him."

Match Facts

- Federer is in his eighth straight Open semifinal

- Federer hits 29 winners to Tsonga's 17

- Federer won 77% of his first serve points (48 of 62)

- Federer won 96 total points to Tsonga's 75

Arthur Ashe Stadium - Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
Roger Federer SUI (3) 6 6 6
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA (11) 4 3 3

completed

Men's Singles 

Quarterfinals

(3)

R.Federer 6 6 6

(11)

J.Tsonga 4 3 3

Arthur Ashe Stadium

Caroline Wozniacki posted a routine 6-1, 7-6(5) win over a tenacious Andrea Petkovic on Court 13 to secure her place in the semifinals.

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