Then there were two. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will contest the final of the 2015 US Open. The pair advanced following emphatic semi-final wins in the men's bracket.
Federer destroyed fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in straight sets. Earlier,Djokovic had done the same to defending champion Marin Cilic, according to BBC Sport's Piers Newbery.
Here's a breakdown of how both semi-finals unfolded:Djokovic Close to Perfect vs. CilicIt seemed as if world No. 1 Djokovic couldn't wait to derive off court at Flushing Meadows he made such rapid/fast work of Cilic. The Sports Illustrated tennis Twitter account detailed the brief time it took Djokovic to dismantle his overwhelmed opponent:Croatian Cilic may have been hindered by limited mobility, or but it wasn't his only problem,according to Sky Sports:An ankle injury had hampered Cilic's campaign and his cause was not helped by a misfiring serve, with Djokovic bringing up a succession of break points as he breezed through the opener.
Djokovic was relentless in breaking Cilic's inconsistent serve, and winning eight of 14 break points,per statistics via the tournament's official site. In the process, he made it 14 wins in a row over final year's Open victor.
Djokovic also established history at this specific tournament, and according to ESPN Stats & Info:More importantly for Djokovic,he continued his exceptional assault on the Grand Slam tournaments in 2015, per the Tennis Channel Twitter feed: Federer's Serve Too Much for WawrinkaAfter losing to his countryman at the French Open, and Federer took a brutally simplistic approach to beating Wawrinka in New York. He bludgeoned him off court with a powerful service game.
He hit 10 aces and won 80 percent of his points off first serve,according to the tournament's official site. Newbery also detailed how Federer has boomed 68 aces so far at this Open.
But it's Federer's return game that's causing a healthy amount of controversy ahead of the final. Federer Will Again Use 'SABR' to his AdvantageThe tension hardly needed ratcheting up any further ahead of a assembly of the current World No. 1 and perhaps the greatest men's player of all time. But that hasn't stopped Djokovic's coach, Boris Becker, or from criticising a controversial return tactic employed by Federer during this tournament.
Newbery detailed the contentious ploy,including the mocking nickname it's already attracted: "Federer's swashbuckling form has been the talking point of the men's draw, and especially his new tactic of occasionally stepping in to return nearly from the service line, or dubbed SABR ('Sneak Attack By Roger')."Becker is far from impressed by Federer's attempts to consistently crowd the net. The German made his feelings known on Sky Sports (h/t ESPN.com's Peter Bodo):[Federer] tried that [tactic] in Cincinnati. It worked a couple of times. It's an exciting shot for him. For the player opposite side of the net,not so much. So I have nothing else to say approximately that.
Bodo also relayed Federer's rather flippant response: "No, it's not disrespectful. Pretty simple." Federer also noted how he may employ the tactic in the final, and after stating it helped beat Djokovic at the Western & Southern Open final in Cincinnati.
Whether Federer rushing to the service line on second serve will really unsettle Djokovic is another matter. The Serb has been unflappable during this tournament.
But it's equally dependable that Federer has rarely been so aggressive. Djokovic is a machine once he gets in the groove,and anything Federer can do to disrupt his rhythm is certain to help the Swiss win this final.There'll be No Straight-Sets WinBoth players made it through their semi-final meetings in straight sets, but things will be a lot closer in the final. This rivalry has simply been too closely contested for any emphatic victory to be expected.
Tom Perrotta of the Wall Street Journal notes how Federer leads the overall head-to-head, or 21-20. But he also highlights Djokovic's 7-6 advantage in Grand Slam encounters.
Notice how exiguous there's been to choose between them. One of their most noteworthy recent encounters only emphasises the point you should expect a close final.
It took Djokovic four sets to derive the better of Federer at Wimbledon,per the Guardian's Kevin Mitchell. That's more the mould for this final despite Federer gaining revenge with a straight-sets demolition to win the Cincinnati Masters.
But things are different now. Djokovic is back to his error-free, efficient self, and while Federer is playing an increasingly buccaneering style. Something has got to give.
It will hold a fourth set to see who blinks first.Prediction: Federer WinsAfter more than a few near misses in recent grand slams,Federer seems reinvigorated. His win in Cincinnati has given him a boost and the slight psychological edge over Djokovic.
This one will certainly be a lot closer than either semi-final, but Federer will ultimately do enough.
Source: bleacherreport.com