Novak Djokovic has reached his third successive US Open semi-final after getting the better of Fernando Verdasco in four sets.
Fourth seed books potential Federer showdown
Novak Djokovic has reached his third successive US Open semi-final after getting the better of 10th seed Fernando Verdasco in four sets.
The number four seed failed to produce the tennis which took him to the final at Flushing Meadows in 2007 but Serbian star dug in deep to record a 7-6 (7-2) 1-6 7-5 6-2 victory over his Spanish opponent in a contest which broke the three hour mark.
Roger Federer has proved Djokovic's obstacle at Flushing Meadows for the last two seasons and the Swiss could again be the Serb's semis nemesis afterthe top seed came through his night match with Robin Soderling.
Djokovic, though, will be able to relax a while before Friday's semi-finals having reached the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time this year.
He had edged a tight first set on a tie-break only for Verdasco to storm back in the second set as Djokovic struggled on first serve, the Madrid man jumping all over the Serb's second ball.
Having got back on track in the third, Djokovic turned his game up a notch in the fourth, breaking Verdasco's serve to go 2-1 up.
At that point the Spaniard called in a trainer for attention on an abdominal muscle strain, similar to the problem third seed Rafael Nadal had aggravated in his fourth round win over Nicolas Almagro.
Important
Just as his compatriot was hardly affected by the problem against Almagro, Verdasco nearly broke back in the next game, only to lose his break point and then the game after a furious rally which the fourth seed clinched with a rocket of a backhand down the line.
There was no turning back for Djokovic from there and he promptly sealed a double break and the 2008 Australian Open champion served for match, racing to 40-0 and then sealing victory in style with a drop volley at the net.
"It feels great (to reach the semi-finals)," Djokovic said. "I haven't done that in the past three grand slams this year, so mentally it was very important for me to overcome today's challenge and to be able to win.
"I feel kind of a relief and I hope I just can continue playing well. I feel that I'm enjoying it again much more. It feels like 2007, you know, when I played finals here and did all these crazy things, impersonating the players.
"I like playing here. The surface is quite suitable to my game, the fans, the atmosphere, the entertainment, the show, I like it. And the results that I've made in the past three years show how much enjoyment I have playing here."
