Federer to meet Djokovic in U.S. Open final

World number one Federer, from Switzerland, will play 20-year-old third seed Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final at Flushing Meadows following the Serbian's straight sets win over number 15 David Ferrer of Spain in the first semi-final of the day at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Federer, unbeaten at the US Open since a fourth-round defeat to David Nalbandian in 2003, clocked up his 26th consecutive victory in the championships with a 7-5 6-1 7-5 win over Davydenko. The Russian had looked to have been sliding out of the tournament at two sets down only to push the champion all the way in the third set.

Having lost their previous nine meetings, the signs for a first victory over Federer had been good for the fourth seed when he broke the Swiss serve in the opening game of the match.

Federer had to save another break point that would have put him 4-1 down but he edged back into the opening set, moving in front for the first time in the match at 4-3.

There were break points in the next game for Federer at 15-40 only for his backhand to misfire twice. Luckily for the defending champion, Davydenko handed him the break anyway on a double fault.

Back came Davydenko, though, evening the set at 5-5 before Federer in the next game eked out a set point to take the opener in 51 minutes.

At 1-0 down in the second, when Davydenko again double faulted on break point, it looked as if the set and with it the match were slipping away from the Russian and those fears were confirmed as Federer eased into a 5-1 lead to serve for a 2-0 lead.

The third set, though, was not the formality it should have been for the Swiss star.

Davydenko broke in the fourth game of the third before Federer broke back, only to serve a double fault to cede another break to Davydenko, leaving the third set at 4-2 in favour of the Russian.

Remarkably, Federer was broken again to leave Davydenko to serve for the set at 5-3 but the champion was let off the hook when his opponent mis-hit a smash to trail 0-30, a point from which he pressed on for the sixth break of serve in the set.

There was almost a seventh in the very next game as Davydenko continued to undermine a Federer serve that had until this match had been a model of consistency.

Davydenko had two set points, coming close on both to making a major breakthrough but when the second got away with a wide forehand at the end of an absorbing rally and his head dropped in dismay, there was a sense the chance had passed for good.

Perhaps Davydenko sensed it too, his next service game ending miserably yet again on a double fault to leave Federer serving for the match at 6-5 up.

With the end in sight Federer finally stepped up through the gears, serving a love game to send him through to another date with Djokovic.

The Serbian says he is ready to win a grand slam at the first opportunity when he plays Federer in his first major final.

Djokovic set up his first shot at a grand slam title when he got past number 15 Ferrer in their semi-final.

Following a tremendous summer on hard courts in north America, which included a tournament victory in Montreal in August, Djokovic has been tipped by many inside the sport to break Federer's dominance at this final grand slam of the year.

Djokovic beat Andy Roddick, world number two Rafael Nadal and Federer in successive matches to take the ATP Masters Series title in Montreal, and now he insists he is ready to challenge the world number one.

"I think I'm ready and I need to be ready," Djokovic said following his 6-4 6-4 6-3 victory.

"I need to think like this. I need to believe in myself, because otherwise I won't get a positive outcome.

"I don't want to go out tomorrow and try to do my best or try to perform well. No, I'll go tomorrow to try to win.

"It's going to be an amazing experience in front of 23,000 people and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I hope I can recover and try to win it."

Federer, unbeaten at the US Open since a fourth-round defeat to David Nalbandian in 2003, clocked up his 26th consecutive victory in the championships.

That puts him in his 10th consecutive grand slam final 24 hours after his defeat of the Russian and Federer said: "The Saturday-Sunday thing is tough on the players.

"All of a sudden the rhythm changes entirely so instead of talking about a match you played 45 minutes ago I have to start thinking already about the upcoming match against Djokovic.

"I'm feeling great. I know how to play him and I hope I can just do what I do best and hopefully win."

Federer lost to Djokovic in their last meeting, when the Serbian took the ATP Masters Series title in Montreal.

"He's tough off the baseline, he's got a good serve, he's got a good forehand, backhand. Similar to Davydenko, just with a better serve it seems to me.

"I've had some matches where I played fantastic against him, then had a tough one in Montreal.

"We've had two best-of-five matches, once in Davis Cup, once at the Australian Open. I was able to beat him both times in straight sets.

"But, you know, these guys improve quickly. I felt that in Montreal. Hopefully I can beat him again this time around."