Federer, Djokovic set up fourth career Cincinnati final

Normally it’s three strikes you’re out–but not in this incredible rivalry between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic that seems to be never-ending.

The two all-time greats have already faced each other in three Western & Southern Open finals and they will go head-to-head in a fourth after getting through their respective semifinals on Saturday.

Federer got a second-set retirement from David Goffin, which the 37-year-old certainly did not mind after winning two matches on Friday against Leonardo Mayer and Stan Wawrinka.

On the other hand, the entire week has been a heavy workload for Djokovic, who not only missed out on a first-round bye but has also played four consecutive three-setters. The most recent one saw him hold off Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Saturday afternoon. Djokovic broke his opponent in the eighth game of the final set, just as he had done against Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals.

“Yesterday at 4-3 in the third, today at 4-3 in the third, both times I made crucial breaks,” the 10th-ranked Serb noted. “But, I wasn’t just closing my eyes and going for the shots. I was trying to tactically play smart and strategically play the certain shots that will put me in a better position than my opponent. When you play guys like Cilic and Raonic, you have to be lucky to anticipate their serve, try to block it, try to put it in play, and again, develop a point in a way which will allow you to win it.

“Today I made a passing shot down the line, which was quite awesome, and I was lucky to hit the line. That’s what happens. I mean, that one point, one shot, decided a winner of the match today. That’s how close it was. It was similar to yesterday’s match, so not much has really separated us.”

“It was a big battle; definitely tough conditions–very hot, very humid, very different than all the matches that I have played here this week,” Cilic explained. “It wasn’t easy to adjust in that from the beginning of the match. But just an amazing performance by him. In those critical points he lifted his level in those moments, and that earned him the victory.

The result is a 46th career contest between Federer and Djokovic, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head series 23-22. Federer, who is 46-8 lifetime at this event with seven titles, beat his fellow former world No. 1 in the 2009, 2012, and 2015 Cincinnati finals.