Djokovic to meet Federer in semi showdown
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Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic has advanced to a US Open semi-final meeting with four-time defending champion Roger Federer with a 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) victory over Andy Roddick.
The Australian Open champion booked a match against Swiss second seed Federer, who defeated Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in an earlier quarter-final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Federer-Djokovic semi-final will be a rematch of last year's US Open final, in which Federer won 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 to capture his 12th grand slam title.
Federer has a 6-2 career record against Djokovic.
"He's an absolute favourite in that match," Djokovic said.
"I lost to him last year. For him it's a big challenge to go back to number one. For sure it's going to be a great match."
Djokovic was spurred on by Roddick's jokes to the crowd two nights earlier about the Serbian claiming several injuries.
"Andy said I have 16 injuries. Obviously I don't," Djokovic said, drawing boos from a crowd dominated by Roddick supporters.
"Like it or not, it's like that," Djokovic said. "They are already against me because they think I'm faking everything."
"That was not nice to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I'm faking it. The momentum is not nice."
Roddick told reporters later than he had been joking about Djokovic faking injuries.
"It was completely meant in jest," said 2003 winner Roddick, who joked to reporters that anthrax and SARS could be future complaints from the Serb.
"I don't think I was over the line. I'm sorry he felt that way. Maybe I did him a favour tonight."
It will be the first healthy meeting of Federer and Djokovic since last year at Flushing Meadows.
Djokovic beat Federer in straight sets in the Australian Open semi-finals on the way to his first slam title, but Federer said he was ill, and Djokovic retired against Federer in an April semi-final on Monte Carlo clay.
Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal - the reigning French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic champion - will meet British sixth seed Andy Murray in the other semi-final at the year's final grand slam tennis tournament.
-AFP/Reuters
