This year's U.S. Open has seen many unusual events—player unity against slippery courts, two straight days and nights washed out by rain, a mixed-doubles title won by two American teenagers who had combined for 10 singles match wins on tour this year. But one feature has arrived right on schedule: The Big Four are playing in the men's semifinals on Super Saturday. Defending champion Rafael Nadal, the world No. 2, plays No. 4 Andy Murray, the 2008 finalist, later today. First up: No. 3 Roger Federer, the five-time champion, vs. No. 1 Novak Djokovic, twice a runner-up.The pair have met 23 times, with Federer winning 14 to Djokovic's nine, but in the past two years it's a much closer 5-4 to the Swiss and in 2011 it's 3-1 to Djokovic with that defeat on the red clay at Roland Garros the only blemish.Nadal and Djokovic will meet for the third time over the last five Grand Slam finals.But even with the loss, Federer showed he's not done.
To move within a point of the match after the way Djokovic played the third and fourth sets was a testament to what the 30-year-old still has left in the tank.
"I did all the right things in so many tournaments," Federer said. "But like I said, sometimes in sports it just goes the other way. Maybe you've already won so much that it evens it out a bit sometimes. I don't know."
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