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Djokovic to take on Nadal in final
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Rafael Nadal cruised into the US Open final with a 21-match hardcourt unbeaten streak on Saturday while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic had to withstand a five-set, limit-testing struggle to join him.
Second-ranked Spaniard Nadal, whose 12 grand slam titles include the 2010 US Open, routed French eighth seed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-2, to reach his third final in four years. Nadal missed the 2012 event with knee injuries.
Serbian six-time major winner Djokovic outlasted Swiss ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 after four hours and nine minutes to reach his fourth US Open final in a row, fifth overall, and 12th slam final.
Nadal leads Djokovic 21-15 in their personal rivalry, which will move past John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl as the most-played matchup in the Open era.
Nadal won their most recent meetings in a five-set French Open semifinal and last month’s Montreal semifinals. “Novak is an amazing competitor,” Nadal said. “His results say it. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen.”
Nadal dropped serve for the first time in the fourth game of the second set of his semifinal, ending his streak of 73 held service games at Flushing Meadows and a run of 88 in total stretching to the ATP Cincinnati Masters semifinals.
But it was the only break Nadal surrendered, and when he overwhelmed the Frenchman in the tie-breaker, it was clear he was in total command. He finished after two hours and 21 minutes.
For his part, Djokovic admitted that he was not even the best player on the court for much of his match, but said he was able to raise his game when it mattered most to subdue stubborn Wawrinka, in his first grand slam semifinal. “I was just so fortunate to play my best tennis when I needed to,” he said.
The victory ensured Djokovic will stay atop the rankings after the US Open no matter how he fares in the final today.
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