Djokovic upsets Federer

NEW YORK (AP):

Novak Djokovic prevented an eighth Grand Slam championship match between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer - and the first at the US Open - by saving two match points and coming back to stun Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in yesterday's semi-finals.

"One of those matches," Djokovic said, "you'll always remember in your career."

It means that the third-seeded Djokovic will be standing between No. 1 Nadal and a career Grand Slam in the final today.

Nadal owns eight major titles but had never been past the semi-finals at the US Open before beating No. 12 Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 yesterday.

Federer had reached six consecutive US Open finals, winning five trophies from 2004-08, but he repeatedly let leads slip away this time. Federer took the first set against Djokovic, then the third. And even after Djokovic forced a fifth set, Federer twice was a single point from winning.

"It's really hard to describe the feeling I have right now," Djokovic said in an on-court interview. "Ten minutes ago, I was a point from losing this match and now I managed to come back."