Top seeds Roger Federer and Novak
Djokovic were semifinal winners Saturday and will meet for the title at the
Swiss Indoors tennis tournament.
The top-seeded Federer notched a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 victory over fellow Swiss
native Marco Chiudinelli after the second-seeded Djokovic had rallied for a
6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-2 triumph over fifth seed Radek Stepanek.
Djokovic will play in an ATP Tour-best ninth title match of 2009, but he had
to save three match points on Saturday to advance. He will try for a fourth
title of the season and the 15th of his career.
The Serbian star won earlier this year in Dubai, Belgrade and Beijing, but has
also lost five times in title matches. One those setbacks came against Federer
in the Cincinnati Masters.
Federer was a 6-1, 7-5 winner in the final of that U.S. Open tuneup and is 9-4
lifetime against Djokovic. The two also met at Flushing Meadows and Federer
notched a straight-set win to advance to the U.S. Open final, where he lost to
Juan Martin del Potro.
Djokovic did win the first two meetings this year, beating Federer in
semifinals at Miami and Rome. He rallied from a set down in each of his wins.
Stepanek was in prime position to win Saturday, leading 5-4 with three match
points against Djokovic's serve in the 10th game of the second set, but the
Serb was able to battle back.
"I just tried to focus on the next point," said Djokovic about being down 0-40
with three match points against him. "I tried to get some serves in and go for
my shots. I didn't think about the pressure of losing and, luckily for me, it
worked."
Djokovic then broke Stepanek's serve for a 6-5 lead and held to force the
decisive third, which he dominated with a pair of breaks.
Federer will be gunning for his 62nd career singles crown and fifth of a
record-setting 2009. In addition to the Cincinnati title, he also won in
Madrid before finally capturing the French Open to complete his career Grand
Slam. He then conquered Wimbledon for the sixth time to set the all-time
record for major championships with 15.
The world's top-ranked player will also be trying for his fourth consecutive
title in his hometown tournament.
Sunday's winner will collect $430,000.
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