Sparkling Fed through to final

Federer: Sparkling performance

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Defending champion Roger Federer has reached the final of the US Open after scoring a 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-2 victory over Novak Djokovic.

In a match that was a repeat of last year's final, the second seed hit no fewer than 20 aces in a sparkling performance that was arguably his best of the tournament so far.

Having previously struggled during his fortnight at Flushing Meadows, Federer, who is chasing both his fifth straight US Open title and his first grand slam of the year, played an almost perfect opening set.

Both men held their opening service games in impressive fashion but Djokovic could not manage the feat in his second as Federer's power from the baseline saw him establish a 3-1 cushion.

Indeed, the 27-year-old did not give Djokovic a sniff of getting back into the opening set, making just three unforced errors in total.

But, with Federer twice having his serve broken, Australian Open champion and third seed Djokovic lifted his game to take the second.

Topsy-turvy

The fourth game of the set initially appeared crucial, but it turned out to be a slightly more topsy-turvy affair.

Djokovic capitalised on his first break-point of the match as Federer sent a backhand wide to hand the 21-year-old a 3-1 lead which became 4-1 when he held serve in the next game.

However, Federer battled back to 4-4 but then at 5-6, and having already saved two set-points, he pulled a forehand wide to hand Djokovic the set.

Federer headed into this semi-final knowing defeat would see him slip to number three in the rankings behind Djokovic.

But, after the third set went with serve up to 5-5, the 12-time grand slam champion must have known that the outcome was swinging in his favour when he secured a crucial break to go two sets to one ahead.

Djokovic beat Federer to claim his grand slam breakthrough in Melbourne at the start of the year, but there was to be no repeat of that success on Saturday, with a couple of backhand errors gifting the latter a break in the fifth game of the fifth set.

And with momentum by now firmly established, Federer never looked likely to relinquish his advantage and did not lose another game.

Excited

"I am so excited to be back in the final again," Federer later said courtside. "I've worked hard all season to do well in the big ones. (To win) here at the Open would mean a hell of a lot to me."

He now plays the winner of the other semi-final between world number one Rafael Nadal and British sixth seed Andy Murray and said he would like to exact revenge over the Spaniard for his Wimbledon loss.

"Who do I prefer to play? I prefer the trophy, that's what I prefer," added the Swiss star, who was deposed by Nadal as world number one last month.

"But I guess I would have to say Rafa because we've had such great battles over the year. Wimbledon was unbelievable so I hope we can have another one."