ROGER Federer stormed into a fifth straight US Open final on Saturday and insisted he has nothing to prove at the end of a difficult year which has seen him lose his world No1 ranking.
Four-time defending champion Federer beat third seed Novak Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 to book the first place in tonight's delayed final with, it turned out, Scotland's Andy Murray, whose semi-final with Rafael Nadal was concluded last night after
its interruption by Tropical Storm Hanna.
Federer's form at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre has helped the Swiss star put on hold all the talk of his imminent demise that followed him into the final grand slam of the year.
"The pressure is off," Federer said after dispatching Djokovic, who had beaten him in the Australian Open semi-finals at the start of the year.
"I think now you can look forward and just try to win, really. Because I think the pressure is always on in the early rounds, coming through and not getting an upset early on.
"There were a couple of tough opponents early on, so I think once you get to the semis you can maybe play a little bit more freely again, because you're also playing opponents who you know most likely have a better chance to beat you.
"You also know them better, so it's easier to play against them, as well. I don't feel like now I need to prove myself in the finals."
Against Djokovic, the second seed finished with five breaks en route to capturing his 33rd consecutive win at Flushing Meadows, while the Swiss star also had 20 aces compared to six for Djokovic and edged the Serbian in winners with 51 to 43.
"I'm happy to be through to another grand slam final. I've been on an incredible run at slams lately, and this was a big match," added Federer. "I knew it from when I saw the draw. If we both get to the semis, it was a huge match, he's seeking the number two ranking a little bit. He's been playing well on hard courts for the last one-and-a-half years. I knew it was always going to be difficult. I'm very happy with the result."
Federer had been relishing a possible chance to face Nadal, the man who dislodged him from the top of the word rankings and denied him a sixth Wimbledon title earlier this summer. He would have started that match as the underdog on paper, and had been looking forward to the release of pressure that came with that unfamiliar status.
"I don't want to put pressure on him, but that's how it was for me. I was always expected to win," Federer said before the conclusion of the Murray/Nadal match. "I had maybe a little bit less this year, but nevertheless I'm defending champion. I know what it's all about."
But he added: "I'd like to play Andy, as well, but he hasn't been as good as Rafa for the past years. But I'm sure he will be at the top of the game for a very long time, because I always thought Andy has incredible talent. He's a great player."
The full article contains 553 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
