The Hindu : Sport : Nadal, Federer set up dream showdown

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Nadal, Federer set up dream showdown

RELIEVED MAN: Roger Federer survived a Nikolay Davydenko scare to enter the French Open final. — PHOTO: AP

PARIS : Rafael Nadal will take on Roger Federer in the French Open final for the second year in a row after both won their semifinals in straight sets on Friday.

The Spanish defending champion fought off a spirited challenge from sixth seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 and reach the final without dropping a set.

Earlier top seeded Federer edged past fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 7-5, 7-6(5), 7-6(7) to make it through to the Roland Garros championship match for only the second time.

Rematch

Their rematch will be the dream showdown that had been widely predicted at the start of the tournament with Grand Slam history beckoning for the winner.

``I am so happy with this win,'' Nadal said. ``I started so well and my forehand was working well forcing him to run a lot.

``After the first set I was well on my way and it makes it very difficult for anyone to win three sets in a row against me.''

Nadal carried an unbeaten streak of 19 matches into his semifinal with Djokovic who at 20, a year younger than the Spaniard, was playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal.

The Serb had his back to the wall early on struggling to stay with the Spaniard's heavy top spin, but a huge forehand down the line from the champion clinched the first break of serve in the fifth game.

On the back of that, Nadal turned on the power moving to 5-2 ahead and serving for the set, but Djokovic produced a magnificent effort to break the Spaniard's serve twice in a row and in the process win over the centre court faithful.

Trademark shots

He could not hold to his own serve at 5-5, however, Nadal's trademark forehand down the line again doing the damage at break point and the title-holder comfortably served out for the set in 66 minutes.

Djokovic failed to convert three break points for a 2-0 lead in the second set and he was made to pay the price in the seventh game when Nadal again used his big forehand to devastating effect.

The Spaniard set up break point by whipping one down the line at full stretch to his left after Djokovic had thought he had hit a winning volley. He then ran down a drop shot with ease to hammer home his advantage. Nadal served for the set at 5-4, let slip three set points, saved a break point with an ace and then finally clinched it when Djokovic hit a forehand marginally long. A win for Federer in Sunday's final would make him just the sixth man in history to have won all four Grand Slam titles and the first since Andre Agassi here in 1999.

Fighting back

Roger Federer overcame a deficit in each set to beat Nikolay Davydenko. ``I could have lost in three sets,'' Federer said.

Federer improved to 9-0 against Davydenko but found the three-hour semifinal a struggle from the start. Federer fell behind 2-4, love-40 in the opening set before staging a rally, repeatedly erasing break points with big serves and breaking in the final game.

Delight for Dechy-Ram

France's Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram of Israel won the mixed doubles title on Thursday. The eighth-seeded duo beat the Slovenian-Serbian pair of Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic 7-5, 6-3 to claim their first title together. — Agencies

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