RG12 - Match of the Day: Roger Federer (SUI) (3) v Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1)

ROLAND GARROS 2012

MEN's SINGLES SFs

"Match of the Day"

 Roger Federer (SUI) (3) v Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1)

at

Court Philippe Chatrier

not before

1:00 PM Paris Local Time

Roger Federer says he would like to play more five-set matches against world no.1 Novak Djokovic, so he must be pleased he is about to get another chance in Friday's semi-final.

The Serbian has taken down the Swiss in five of their last six meetings, with the only blemish being the pressure-packed 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) victory that Federer seized over Djokovic in the 2011 Roland Garros semis.

It was on that day that Federer stopped Djokovic's 43- match winning streak in a brilliant, creative display. Djokovic, who had handled the great Swiss so coolly in the five months proceeding the French Open, in Australia, Dubai and at Indian Wells, misfird at crucial points, as though holding the weight of the winning streak on his shoulders was too much for him.

Every great player goes through similar types of  drama, as Federer will attest to. The Swiss had two opportunities to win four straight majors in 2006 and 2007, but was stopped both times by the impenetrable Rafael Nadal in Paris

Now Djokovic faces the same questions as he has won the last three majors (all over Nadal) and is looking to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four straight Grand Slams.

Yet to find top gear

Once again, he'll face Federer, and like last year in Paris, Djokovic is not in top form after having to survive marathon five setters in the two previous rounds against Andreas Seppi and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. But then again, Federer has been less than perfect too, needing five sets to get past Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarters and dropping sets in three of his matches before that.

"Both guys have not really gotten their total 'A' game, going," said seven-time Grand Slam champion and TV analyst John McEnroe. "It's difficult to say what's going to happen if one or both of these guys could and may step it up. Everyone expected this match.  When it happens, maybe they can sort of find their best level.  There is no reason to believe that Roger won't play better.  He has to play better if he's going to win. Novak I think is really feeling the pressure like he did last year.  It's impossible not to feel that because he's so close. Now that he's gotten here, I expect him to play better. Even though he lost to Roger here last year, it's going to be Roger that's going to have to play even quite a bit better in order to win.  But then again, both of them are going to have to play even better if they want to win the final."

There is a lot of truth to that last statement as Nadal has once again showed superior form to anyone left in the event. But neither Federer or Djokovic can afford to worry about that now, because if they let down for a millisecond they will see their semifinal opponent race away  to victory.

The keys to victory

For Federer, the key will be not to allow Djokovic to work him over in extended rallies. He has to serve well, and get on top of the Serbian as quickly as possible. He has to mix up his game, try and dictate with his forehand and close on the net as quickly as possible.

"Obviously it helps to win one like he did in Rome," Federer said. "But then again, this is the best situation.  It's the best‑of‑five. It's something we're not ‑ I don't want to say accustomed to anymore as much, because we did play many more best‑of‑five set matches, let's say, seven to ten years ago when many of the tournaments were best of‑five‑set finals.

So you used to play many more.  Now all of a sudden you can go six months and not play almost any five‑setters, and even three years, so it's a different approach, and I think we're both aware of that.  We're looking forward to it.  Give us more time to find our range, and once we find our range, it's going to be tough for the opponent."

For Djokovic, who fought off two match points against Federer at  the 2011 US Open (and also four against Tsonga this week), the key will be to calm his nerves and show the same type of self-belief that he has displayed in taking down Nadal in the last three majors. He does not have to be crazy going very early to offense, and he must trust that his normal defense to offense patterns will be effective. If he does, he'll have chance to make history on Sunday. If he doesn’t, then Federer will have opportunity no 6 against Nadal in Paris

"I think for me it's crucial to be very focused and aggressive from the first moment, because that's something that you can always expect Roger to have, that control over the opponent from the start," Djokovic said. " I will try to be out there believing I can win. Now there is no really favorite for that match.  It's semifinals, so everything is open."

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