'Hotdog' Federer through to final
Roger Federer earned a match point with a trick shot
Also In The News
|
By Matt Fortune. |  |
Monday, 14, Sep 2009 01:56
By James Christie.
Roger Federer is through to his sixth consecutive US Open final having unveiled a trick shot called the 'hotdog' at a vital stage of his 7-6 7-5 7-5 semi-final victory over Novak Djokovic.
The 'hotdog' is a through-the-legs, don't-try-this-at-home shot which is played when a player finds himself with his back to court having been lobbed.
Federer had the chance to demonstrate his 'hotdog' when just two points away from victory at 6-5 up in what turned out to be the final set of an absorbing contest.
The tournament top seed, who has triumphed five times at Flushing Meadows, didn't spurn the chance, 'nut-megging' the ball through his legs from beyond the baseline.
A stranded Djokovic could only watch the ball fly past him as he stood at the net.
The applause for Federer's audacity had still not died down when the world number one wrapped up the match with a more straightforward forehand one point later.
The Swiss master later admitted: "I do practice them ['hotdogs'] a lot actually but they never work.
"That's why I guess it was the greatest shot I ever hit in my life."
The encounter, which resembled the 2007 final played between the two players, was a lot closer than the score suggests.
Djokovic had displayed shaky form during the tournament but upped his game dramatically tonight. It was not enough.
Although 3-2 up in the first set tiebreak he lost it 7-3 as Federer mixed up the play with brutal forehands and softly-hit dropshots.
Federer left it to the last opportunity to break in the next two sets but will be satisfied with his day's work having hit 49 clean winners during the semi-final clash.
The five-times champion had lost two out of his last three matches with his Serbian opponent four seed but now enjoys a 9-4 career record against the world number four.
He will face Juan Martin Del Potro in the final with a 16th Grand Slam title beckoning should he beat the in-form Argentine.