When the top four players in the game meet on the same court on the same day, amazing things are bound to happen.  When the Friday dust settled just before darkness prevailed, Roger Federer did what Rafa Nadal has been unable to do in his last four attempts.  The Swiss topped second seeded Novak Djokovic in four highly charged sets.  The 29-year old Federer left his abundant fans in awe of his bold, tireless and fearless play.  Rafa Nadal stood tall in the wake of a stern challenge from fourth seeded Andy Murray in the other semifinal.

This day of startlingly spectacular tennis and surprising forthright etiquette will be imprinted in the memory banks of all who watched tennis at its best.  This may well have been the greatest single day of semifinal Grand Slam play in the history of the game.

Federer Stops Djokovic

Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic took the court later than expected and both players were aware that darkness might suspend the match.  The stakes were high, the tension was thick in dusty and windy Roland Garros.

Djokovic had a lot on the line. With a win, he would record his 42^nd straight season opening victory, tying him with John McEnroe for the most wins to start a season.  More importantly, a win would elevate him to the top of the tour rankings.

The only reason to think there might be a problem is that he had not played in four days due to an injury to his quarterfinal opponent Fabio Fognini.  The rust showed at early stages of the match, but the electric crowd charged both players.  These are two players that know how to bring it on when on center stage.

Djokovic has dominated the game’s top four players in 2011.  Federer has quietly seen his star diminish but the competitive spirit that has earned The Swiss 16 Grand Slam tournaments has been busy honing skills rather than playing in tournaments.

The score 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) reflects a close match but does not do justice to the largesse of the moment.  This was a match that either player could have won.  Every point was a special moment.

In the end, the tour’s hottest player had to be surprised by the aggressive play of the third seed.  Not only were Federer’s ground strokes daring but they were crisp and consistent.

Novak Djokovic did not win 41 straight matches without encumbering opponent’s hot streaks, but this time was different.  Every time the Serb elevated his play, the Swiss stepped up his own game.

What must have surprised Novak the most was Roger’s commitment to a big serve. Often it seemed Federer’s second serve was the same pace as his first serve.  Roger recorded 17 aces until the final point of the match when he nailed his 18^th ace that clipped the middle corner line.

In the first set, the players both were distracted by the wind and dust as they exchanged two early breaks.  At 4-5, Federer appeared on the way to one more Djokovic nightmare.  This time he came through with a blazing ace and a daring cross court winner before drawing even at 5-5.

Trailing 15-30, Djokovic received a chair warning for slow play between serves.  The Serb said little but played an aggressive volley for a winner and served the game out.  Federer’s hold brought the pair to a tiebreaker.

Federer jumped ahead 4-2 but lost two Djokivic serves and played a sloppy point.  Djoko was in command at 4-5 but the Swiss blasted two great serves and Djokovic made some costly errors in losing three straight points to hand Roger the set.

Federer rode his adrenaline to a 4-1, lead in the second set. At 2-5, 0-40,  Djoko came back with three winners and survived two more break chances before sealing the game. At 5-3, 30-40 Roger won with an ace, a crisp inside-out forehand drive and a weak backhand from Djoko that sank into the net. Federer had the first two sets.  He has a telling record of his own.  With a 2 set to nil lead, Federer is 174-0 in Grand Slam events.

Djokovic had finished the second set in solid form.  He used that momentum to score an early lead in set three.  Jumping to a 3-0, Djokovic was in top form and Roger seemed to be letting out some slack and preparing for the fourth set.  The one break was all Djoko needed to claim the set as both players held serve the rest of the way.

If relaxing inn set three was Roger’s strategy it appeared flawed as both players held serve through eight games. At 4-4, Djokovic scored a break on one of those games that felt like a match breaker.  The Serb’s fans had more than hope.  They had confidence.  And, why not? At 5-4, Djoko had the set on his racquet and he had not lost his serve in nearly two complete sets and some of those games were at love.

Facing darkness and with the possibility of facing a revived Djokovic on Saturday morning, the Swiss dug in his heals.  He launched a barrage of impressive returns with purpose. With a blink of the eye, Roger orchestrated a stunning 0-40 lead.  Djokovic finally answered and drew to 30-40.  A blazing forehand went down the line and Novak could only watch in despair.

Both players held serve to get to 6-6. At 4-3 in the tiebreaker Federer recorded ace number 17 and followed with a service winner.  Djokovic showed his mettle with a favorable net cord and another ace to pull to 5-6.  As Federer prepped for the crucial serve, Djoko asked the chair for quiet.  He got it until Federer’s serve blazed into the middle service box line for his 18^th and final ace.

The crowd erupted as two seasoned competitors, one the hottest player on the tour and the other the greatest player to have graced the game shared a private moment.

Consider these statistics;

*        The match lasted 3 hours 39 minutes

*        Federer had 18 aces, Djokovic 7

*        Federer struck 48 winners, Djoko 40

*        Federer won just 4 of 25 break points

*        Novak won 3 of 13 break chances

*        Roger won 15 of 19 net approaches compared to 12                         of 24 for the Serb

*        The Swiss won a remarkable 70 of 91 first serves (77                        percent)

Djokovic’s third set win marked the first set Roger lost at Roland Garros.  After the match, Federer’s demeanor was precise, like his game.  This was a big win in a high profile match.

On Sunday, the greatest player to have ever stepped on a court will face the greatest clay court player to have stepped on the red clay in Paris.

Nadal vs. Murray

Rafa Nadal came out of the gate with high energy and determination.  The top ranked player wanted to stop Djokovic’s winning streak and claim his sixth French Open title.  He may have been thinking Djokovic but it will now be a deep underdog, Federer, who is quite comfortable in his new role.

Andy Murray started slowly, as he often does.  In the early going he tweaked his ankle twice and was forced to take anti inflammatory medication between games.

Nadal downed Murray in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, but th9s match was filled with shot making of the first order.  Murray was seeking to add to his Nadal triumphs at Flushing Meadows and at Melbourne.

To understand the intensity of play, this match lasted 3 hours and 17 minutes, just 22 minutes less than Federer’s heroic triumph.

The key was Nadal’s ability to score winners from pressured retrieves.  Murray won 102 total points, Nadal totaled 120.  His uncanny ability to raise the bar in crucial situations was the difference.

Murray may have lost, but he will be a tough out with a healed ankle and on the faster surfaces.  As for Nadal, if Federer serves this aggressively on Sunday, it is anybody’s title.  My guess is Nadal in four but I would love to be wrong.

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