Tennis
Dream Open final still in the cards
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-10 10:44
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Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates defeating Robin Soderling of Sweden during the US Open tennis tournament in New York September 8, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]
Breeze, Swiss master's play leave Soderling gasping for breath
NEW YORK - With each vanquished opponent and each defiant shot into the swirling winds of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the matchup long coveted by tennis fans everywhere is steadily taking shape.
So far, not even the blustery conditions at the Billie Jean National Tennis Center have blown away the possibility of No 1 Rafael Nadal and No 2 Roger Federer meeting for the first time at the US Open.
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For the third consecutive year and the fourth overall, Djokovic's opponent in the semifinals will be Federer, who on Wednesday night overcame the relentless wind that has played havoc with tennis balls throughout the tournament. Federer beat Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in their quarterfinal match. It was the 13th time in 14 career meetings that Federer has defeated Soderling.
"I see it as a challenge and an opportunity to play differently," Federer said of the gusty conditions. "It's not easy, you know. It's cold, everywhere it's blowing into your ears and your eyes. I used to dislike it so much and now I'm on the other side. I take enjoyment out of it, actually."
On Thursday, Nadal was set to play No 8 Fernando Verdasco in their quarterfinal. Neither Nadal nor Federer has dropped a set yet. If they continue on this path, they would meet on Sunday in the most anticipated Open final of the decade.
But first Federer must deal with Djokovic, whom he beat in the semifinals in each of the last two years and in the final in 2007. Djokovic defeated Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (2), 6-1, 6-2 in their quarterfinal match earlier in the day.
Asked about facing Federer again, Djokovic shrugged it off. "I don't want to think about the losses the last three years," he said. "At the moment, I'm feeling very comfortable on the court and hopefully I can continue on."
Federer, for his part, displayed his customary confidence in discussing his next match. "We've had some good matches over the years," he said about his previous meetings with Djokovic. Federer added: "He's obviously waiting for a breakthrough where he can win this title. But he's obviously going through me and in the past he hasn't been able to get it done."
Federer had little difficulty on Wednesday against Soderling, who grew up in Sweden playing much of the time indoors. Soderling, less athletic and less skillful than Federer, had particular difficulty with the high toss on his serve, which was left vulnerable to the gusts of wind.
Soderling's worst moment came in the second set when he had just broken back to even the score at 2-2 and he was up by 40-0 with a juicy overhead in his sights. But the wind pushed the ball downward. Soderling bent his knees to get in position, but he slammed the ball into the net.
Then he hit a forehand long and a backhand into the net, and suddenly Federer had broken him again. Soderling had had his chance, and he blew it.
"Everybody who has tried to play tennis knows it is difficult in the wind," Soderling said after the match. "But there is nothing you can do about it. I cannot change the weather."
In the day session, the combination of swirling winds and the enormity of the occasion turned the quarterfinal match between Djokovic and Monfils at the US Open on Wednesday into a gut-twisting affair for both players. Djokovic's battle was volleying, an adventure he found maddening. Monfils was being driven batty by the wind moving his service toss, and he spent much of his afternoon muttering to himself.
Djokovic's frustration was almost entirely unnecessary. His victory was full of incredibly athletic points and a psychology text full of negative body language, but it did not end up being dramatic.
One place where Djokovic is not underplayed is in his own box. His father, Srdjan, has spent the tournament there wearing a T-shirt with a large decal of Novak's face. Djokovic, shaking his head and laughing, said he did not know where his father bought the T-shirt, although it was probably in Belgrade.
"He's my father; if he wants to wear the shirt, he can wear the shirt," he said. "I would never wear the shirt."
Djokovic laughed again. On that point, he did not seem frustrated at all.
New York Times
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his victory against Gael Monfils of France during the US Open tennis tournament in New York, September 8, 2010. [Photo/Agencies] |