Clash of the Titans

Swiss legend Roger Federer reached his first US Open final in six years on Saturday and shall take on world number one Novak Djokovic in the dream men’s singles final slated for Sunday.

Five-time champion Federer, 34, bidding to become the oldest New York champion since 1970, made short work of his compatriot Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals.

Djokovic, the 2011 champion, booked a place in the final for the sixth time with an uncharacteristic 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 rout of defending champion Marin Cilic in the most one-sided US Open semifinal of the modern era, Xinhua reported.

Sunday’s clash will be a rematch of July’s Wimbledon final, where Djokovic triumphed to claim his ninth career Grand Slam crown.

Federer, the holder of 17 majors but without a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon in 2012, will take a 21-20 career edge over Djokovic into the championship match, having won their last duel in Cincinnati in August. The Swiss mogul was imperious against Wawrinka and his victory means he has not dropped a set since the Wimbledon final, a perfect stretch of 28 sets, as he reached a seventh US Open final. “I’m very happy. It’s been a great tournament so far, I have tried very hard in the last six years to get back to the final and tonight it worked,” Federer said.

On Sunday, he will face Djokovic for the sixth time this year -- all have been in finals.

“Novak has had a tremendous year. There’s a lot on the line. He could win his third Slam of the year while I can win my first for some time.

“He’s the best mover on hard courts. He will be tough to <g data-gr-id="36">beat</g> but I am ready for the challenge,” said Federer.

Djokovic has now reached the finals of all four majors this year, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles and finishing runner-up to Wawrinka in Paris. It took Djokovic just 85 minutes to see off Cilic, whose hopes were undermined by an ankle injury. 

“Marin has had an ankle injury so he was very courageous to come out and finish the match,” said Djokovic, who will be chasing a 10th Grand Slam title on Sunday.

“It’s never easy knowing that your opponent is not 100 <g data-gr-id="43">percent</g> but I had to show good intensity and stick to my game plan. “It’s a great achievement to reach the finals of all four majors in the same year for the first time. It’s where you want to do your best,” the Serb added.  

In another noteworthy <g data-gr-id="42">event</g> unheralded Italian Roberta Vinci pulled off one of the biggest upsets in tennis history on Friday, rallying to defeat Serena Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the US Open semifinals.