NEW YORK, 10 September 2006 — Defending champion Roger Federer crushed Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 yesterday to reach the US Open final.
The world No. 1, looking for his third consecutive US Open title, crushed the Russian seventh seed in one hour 43 minutes to become the first man in the Open Era to reach six straight Grand Slam finals.
“I played a great first set and I thought I played really well today,” Federer said.
“Again in the final is a great feeling and it’s great to be in the final of all four majors this year.” The Swiss set the tone by breaking in the second game as he cruised through the first set in 22 minutes, keeping Davydenko off balance with a series of short, sliced backhands.
Davydenko recovered early breaks in the second and third sets but it was not enough to stop Federer cruising through to a final today against ninth-seeded American Andy Roddick or another Russian, Mikhail Youzhny.
Davydenko had never beaten Federer in seven previous meetings though he pushed him to a fourth-set tiebreak in their last match, in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.
Yesterday, he was never allowed to find his rhythm as Federer varied the pace and angle of his attacks.
“In Australia, I had control from the baseline but today he was hitting too fast,” Davydenko said. “Today was short points and he tried to hit faster. It’s really different tennis. He’s No. 1. That’s why I think he’s winning everything, because he plays completely different.” Having reached his second Grand Slam semifinal, Davydenko said he was satisfied with his efforts. “Okay, I’m happy to be in the semifinals. I am disappointed with my play, but not for losing.”
Sharapova, Justine Set Dream
US Open Final Showdown
Maria Sharapova will shoot for her first US Open title after upsetting world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo in the semifinals on Friday. Sharapova will face Justine Henin-Hardenne, who reached her fourth Grand Slam final of the year by beating 19th-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Third seed Sharapova struck 20 winners, double the number from her opponent, to win 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 and reach the second Grand Slam final of her career.
“I thought I played really smart,” the Russian told reporters. “I wasn’t making errors at the wrong times. I started off the match really well. I put pressure on her. I took my chances.”
Mauresmo, the Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, played a miserable first set and won just seven points in the third before admitting she was suffering from tiredness.
“But give all the credit to her,” the 27-year-old Frenchwoman told reporters. “She played a good match. I didn’t play the way I wanted to. Even when I won the second set, I didn’t really feel like things were going the way I wanted them to.” When the top seed secured her only service break in the last game of the second set, she leaped in the air and pumped her fist but she was unable to keep the momentum going.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Henin-Hardenne has a 4-1 record against Sharapova and has beaten her four times in a row.
“I had a terrible record against Amelie (0-3) and that ended today,” Sharapova said. “And I have a terrible record against Justine.”
“So I hope that’s a good luck charm at the Open and I will turn it around tomorrow.”
Appearing in her first Grand Slam semifinal, the 21-year-old Jankovic played aggressively and took advantage of a sub-par performance by Henin-Hardenne to lead by a set and 4-2.
But after double-faulting on her serve for a 5-2 lead, nerves got the better of the Serbian who lost 10 straight games and the match.
“I was pretty nervous at the beginning of the match. I wasn’t in good rhythm,” said the Belgian second seed, who will supplant Mauresmo as world No. 1 if she beats Sharapova.
