The U.S. Open title is coming down to the top two players in the world–Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Sunday’s championship match pits the game’s best against each other at this stage of a second major in succession.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be meeting for the 42nd time in their careers when they battle for the U.S. Open title on Sunday afternoon.
The head-to-head series could not be any closer, to the extent that it may be all tied up again by the time this one ends. Federer holds a 21-20 edge after beating Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-3 in this summer’s Cincinnati final. Djokovic, however, has won three of their five 2015 encounters–including a 7-6(1), 6-7(10), 6-4, 6-3 victory in the Wimbledon championship match. The Serb is 7-6 at his rival’s expense in Grand Slams despite losing four of their first five such showdowns.
Since toppling Djokovic in Cincinnati, an on-fire Federer has not looked back. Playing without question the best tennis in the world right now, Federer has not lost a set so far this fortnight. The 34-year-old Swiss punched his ticket to the title match by disposing of Leonardo Mayer, Steve Darcis, Philipp Kohlschreiber, John Isner, Richard Gasquet, and Stan Wawrinka. Only Isner pushed him to a pair of tiebreakers and nobody else even came within 7-5 in any set.
An aggressive Federer is striking winners from all over the court and he has continued to execute the Sneak Attack By Roger (SABR) tactic–although to what extent depends on the opponent. The world No. 2 never did it against Isner for obvious reasons, but he fared well with it on occasion versus Djokovic in Cincinnati.
“For me, if it makes sense–which I think it does–I’ll use it in the finals,” Federer commented. “I used it to great effect against [Djokovic] in the tough situation at 4-1 in the ‘breaker in Cincy. We will see if the occasion presents itself. It’s got to be the right point, right frame of mind, the right place to do it. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to do it.”
Djokovic has an opportunity to win his third major title of the year and effectively come within one match–besting Serena Williams, who was two matches away–of capturing the calendar-year Grand Slam. The top seed previously triumphed at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon to go along with his runner-up showing at Roland Garros. So far in New York he has defeated Joao Souza, Andreas Haider-Maurer, Andreas Seppi, Roberto Bautista Agut, Feliciano Lopez, and Marin Cilic–dropping sets to Bautista Agut and Lopez in the process.
“I came here with a wish and a mission: to reach the finals and fight for the trophy,” Djokovic assured. “So I got myself in that position. It’s already a great result. But I want to get that final step on Sunday and get my hands on that trophy. Obviously I’m not the only one who wants that. [A] Swiss player will be on (the) opposite side of the net. We will definitely want to have the same kind of mission.”
When the world’s two best players with the same goal collide, the result should be another instant classic. Federer is showcasing the better form, but can he sustain his incredible level from start to finish in a best-of-five situation? He has not been able to do that against Djokovic in recent times–and he will once again come painfully close.
Pick: Djokovic in 5
[polldaddy poll=9072517]
“Brad Gilbert saying Fed in 4 tight sets.”
Brad he has been picking against nole for so long and was wrong most of the time (last one was wimbledon 2015). It is is important what Darren Cahill says tho.
Anyone have Darren’s pick?
i’m sure Darren is taking Fed
he picked nole to win the whole thing. not sure if he changed his opinion.
Ricky is incorrect.
Cahill just picked Nole in five.
Unfortunately, Cahill is incorrect.
Odds are suddenly dropping on Djokovic. Was 1.8 earlier now down to 1.6.
Rumours are circulating that Fed is limping.
no there aren’t
Yes they’ve dropped from 1.8 to 1.6 since this morning but betting odds are probably confusing to you.
I’m not going to watch the match, I shall be watching the 2013 USO final instead. 🙂
#joke
it would be awesome if you would also stop posting. 🙂
Awesome for whom?
Its raining (:-
I don’t know that I want to sit here waiting for the rain to stop not unless they put on highlights of the 2010 and 2013 finals.
They just said on ESPN that there is a slight rain delay.
Apparently, it will rain for about 1 1/2 hours.
it’s ending at 4:30 per weather channel
No it isn’t
Now they said it will be a twenty to thirty minute delay. They are replaying Serena’s match.
http://flip.it/3RvA2
Apparently GOAT is between Nole and Roger.
Who knew?
Federazzi are everywhere.
it will be shocking for everybody when Rafa wins AO 2016 and RG 2016..let them talk the talk…Rafa will walk the walk… 🙂
As far as I’m concerned, Rafa’s GOAT unless Roger wins tonight.
tonight has little impact on it
Haha!!! Like the spirit Nats! I wish Rafa can come roaring back at least to a level where we can pencil him in for the weekend of a tournament
Agreed. Nor does any single title. It has about one in seventeen to do with it but GOAT margin is small ATM.
ESPN has just announced that the rain delay will continue at least to 5:30 local eastern time.
not very helpful when they announce that at 5:10
Ricky was incorrect.
They said 6 PM.
no, i was correct
No
You must be watching a different match.
You’re probably confused by the replay of the women’s match on now
ESPN did not say 6:00 pm initially. They said 5:30. I’ve been watching and hearing every update.
how much more delay???
Nole will have to grind this out… make fed play as many balls as you can, nole….
And this will be the most aggressive fed has ever been in a grand slam final . This is REAL aggression from him these days….
Now ESPN says play will not begin until 6:45 pm
I wonder how this will affect both players. Now this is a night match.
Well fed loves night matches so this should be more beneficial to him.
In fact he has lost only one night match in his career!
Here we go! Players are out on the court getting ready! Finally!
Go Novak! Finally i have decided to root for Novak….
Novak fans must be nervous! Fed’s been playing really really well
I am with you.
IMac just reiterated that Nole is the greatest returner in the history of the game.
Fed has only lost one night match in New York.
Ajde Nole!!!
Same with Novak
Fed had won a lot more.
Novak cant break with 3 BP’s . Now if he breaks Nole, I will e sure Fed is destined for this
Fed had to work to hold his first service game. Novak already pushing pressure on Fed’s serve, but Fed did well to fight off a few break points.