1 of 3 | Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a shot during his French Open mens fourth round match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland at Roland Garros in Paris on May 29, 2011. Federer defeated Wawrinka 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals. UPI/David Silpa |
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PARIS, June 3 (UPI) -- Roger Federer ended Novak Djokovic's yearlong winning streak and earned a fourth French Open championship shot at world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.
Nadal marked his 25th birthday Friday by claiming a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded Andy Murray before Federer, seeded third, defeated Djokovic 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5). It was the first loss of the year for Djokovic, who won his first 41 matches and seven tournaments, including the Australian Open, this year.
Djokovic hadn't lost since Federer beat him Nov. 27 in the semifinals of the World Tour Finals and would have taken over the No. 1 ranking with a win Friday.
But Federer piled up 68 winners Friday in ending that hope for Djokovic. He fired 18 aces, including the final point of the match.
Federer won the final three points of the first-set tiebreaker and seemed to be in command of the match after taking the second set on the strength of a fourth-game break.
But Djokovic came back with a solid third set. Light was fading throughout the fourth set but Djokovic and Federer traded breaks late in the set before heading into the tiebreaker.
Federer won the first two points and added a three-point string for a 6-3 lead and three shots at the match. He needed them all but fired a final ace to advance.
Waiting is Nadal, who is seeking a record-tying sixth French Open title. He is 5-0 in finals at Roland Garros, with three of those wins over Federer.
Nadal out-battled Murray and improved to 44-1 all-time at the French Open with the win.
Murray had break-point opportunities in nine of Nadal's service games but only cashed in three of his 18 overall chances and each of those was after Nadal had at least a one-break advantage in the set.
Nadal used the first two of his six breaks in building a 5-1 lead in the first set and saved a pair of break points before finishing off the 10th game. Murray and Nadal traded four breaks in the second set but Murray wasn't able to get the advantage and an 11th-game break put Nadal in position to go up by two sets.
Nadal opened the third set with another break and fought off a couple of break points before closing by holding serve -- as he did in the second set -- at love.
