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Player of the Day
Home   >   News & Photos   >   Player of the Day: Day 14
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Player of the Day
Roger Federer
Switzerland
Day 14
Switzerland


Roger Federer Bio

Just when you think you’ve seen it all from Roger Federer, who has won in every manner imaginable during his near six-year reign in Flushing Meadows, he shows the world another way to break -- whether it be their serve or their will -- the contenders to his throne.

On the second-to-last point of his semifinal match with No. 4 Novak Djokovic, the Serbian volleyed to draw the Swiss champion to the net and then lobbed Federer’s return far over his head, chasing him back towards the baseline. With no other recourse, Federer ran past the line, tucked his chin to his chest and swiftly swung his racket between his legs, redirecting the bounce just over the net and past a defenseless Djokovic.

The capacity crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted on what Federer would call “the shot of his life.”

“Even though it's the third or fourth time I hit it in a match now, the way I was able to hit it with pace and accuracy, it's something that happens so, so rare,” said Federer. “It was a semifinal of a Grand Slam after all. So to come up with that, to get match point against Djokovic here in the semis, is amazing.”

The return would be the coup de grace or death blow in a straight-set triumph 7-6(3), 7-5, 7-5. A match postponed by almost two days of never-ending rain, Djokovic seemingly could not delay the inevitable any longer, as Federer fired 49 winners to the Serb’s 31 and winning on 78 percent of his first serves over the course of the two hour and 34 minute affair.

“I think we both struggled early on with our rhythm,” said Federer. “I think towards the end of the sets, I got in some good returns, and that allowed me then to actually go after my shots a bit more.

“Whereas in the beginning, if you're down 30-Love all the time on the other guy's serve, the other guy can hit freely. You've just got to make sure you kind of stay in the game. But then it's hard. I got off a good start on many occasions towards the end, and so I'm very happy that in those important moments I was able to come up with the goods.”

Federer, the five-time defending US Open champion, will go for a sixth consecutive title which would be a Grand Slam record in the Open Era.

On Monday, he will play No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro in the men's singles final, who in 2003 received wildcards to three ITF Circuit events in his native country of Argentina at the age of 14 years-old; it is the same year his opponent, Roger Federer, lost in Queens.

“We had a great match in Paris, I thought, which was very close,” said Federer of del Potro.

Federer beat del Potro in all six prior career meetings, including a five-set thriller at the 2009 French Open.

“He's had one of the best summers, along with some other guys, Murray probably. He seems fresh, even though it's his first Grand Slam final."

Reaching his record 20th Grand Slam Final in his career, Federer will also try to capture his 16th Grand Slam championship. At Wimbledon, Federer passed Pete Sampras with number 15, and now stands alone atop the career singles leader board. With a victory, he will also tie Bill Tilden for most consecutive US Open titles (6), and draw within one of Tilden’s seven overall championships.

All that considered, the World No.1 will be considered an overwhelming favorite to build upon his massive resume -- and though he has dominated this tournament since the Bush Administration (the first one, mind you), he remembers humble beginnings.

“I think getting crushed by Andre (Agassi) here one year, I think it was 2001 or 2002, that was definitely, sort of a wakeup call, realizing that I still had a lot of work to do,” said Federer.

“I actually think also back here in the juniors back in '98 I realized walking away from this Grand Slam that I still had a lot of work to do. And usually I sort of look at my game...where it is after, sort of all the four majors are through, and so the US Open has taught me many lessons over the years.”



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