The Joker prevents possibly 'biggest match of all time' at Open

NEW YORK -- Mats Wilander said it would have been "the biggest match of all time," but it won't happen this year -- and maybe never.

Rafael Nadal made it to the U.S. Open final; Roger Federer didn't.

It was the man they call the Joker, Novak Djokovic, who ruined the plot, tore up the script, defeating Federer, 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5, Saturday in a semifinal of brilliance and surprise.

"One of those matches," a weary Djokovic said on television moments after the end, "you'll always remember in your career."

As will Federer in his career, which at age 29 might have reached a plateau.

"I'm just so thrilled to be in the final," said Djokovic, who the last three years in the Open was defeated by Federer, in the final in 2007 and the semis of 2008 and 2009.

On Sunday afternoon, then, it will be Djokovic, the Serb, facing Nadal, the Spaniard, who in the other semi showed why he ranks No. 1, defeating Mikhail Youzhny, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

To the unhappiness of promoters, Wilander -- a former champion -- and, of course, Federer, who for the first time since 2003 will not play on the last day of the last Grand Slam of the year.

"I would have loved to play against him here," Federer said, referring to Nadal, who won both the French and Wimbledon this year. "We'll never know how it would have gone."

What we do know is Federer, after winning the Australian Open in January, didn't make it to the finals of the other three Slams.

For two weeks, the hoping, the planning was Nadal, who has never won the Open, and Federer, who has won it five straight times, would face each other in a dream match, the two best players of the last few years, maybe the two best players ever.

But Djokovic, at 23 is six years younger than Federer and a winner of the 2008 Australian Open, showed that in the men's game the torch of greatness might have been passed, that a new generation is ready to step forward. Nadal, only 24, already has moved to the front, and now here comes the Joker.

'I would have loved to play against [Nadal] here.' Federer says. 'We'll never know how it would have gone.' (AP)

Then, starting in the fourth set of a match that lasted 3 hours, 44 minutes -- the fifth set alone was 1:08 -- Djokovic appeared quicker and stronger.

And you thought of what Federer said the other day, that when you play an epic semi -- and this was the match of the tournament -- it might cost you in the final. Not that Federer, unable to add to his record total of 16 Slam victories, has that worry.

Djokovic prevented what would have been the eighth Grand Slam meeting between the two but the first at Flushing Meadows by saving two match points and coming back to win.

"I had to take chances," said Djokovic. "I also had to be patient."

Patience was what Federer has been known for, patience and winning shots under pressure. But this time it was different.

"It's really hard to explain," said Federer. "I wish I could say he only hit winners to get back ... and I played my very best tennis. But it wasn't the case.

"It's a tough loss for me, but it's only going to fuel me with more motivation to practice hard and get back to the Grand Slam finals. I feel like I'm playing well, and I would have deserved to be in the finals [Sunday]."

If that sounds like an individual who is failing to come to terms with reality, that very well could be the case. One day, 30-year-old Venus Williams gets beat in the women's semis and insists she still has enough to win a Slam. The next day, 29-year-old Roger Federer gets beat in the men's semis and says virtually the same thing.

"Oh, it was close in the fifth [set]," said Federer, seeking affirmation he remains close to the tennis summit. "Unfortunately, the second and fourth just kind of snuck away from me. ... I tried to play aggressive, not to give him too much rhythm, but it all came back at me. At the end, it's not easy, 3-all, 4-all, 5-all in the fifth, anything can happen.

"Sure, looking back, I missed a few too many forehands at the very end, but the match won't be decided on winners only. You can also see mistakes, and he pushed me to make those. Credit to him."

For the past half-decade, it was others talking like that after they played Federer, alluding to the chances missed. Now it's Roger musing about what might have been.

Djokovic knew he was in tough against Federer, but he also knew, having beaten Roger five times in 15 previous matches, the mission wasn't impossible.

"He's a great player," Djokovic had said. "I'm looking forward to the match."

For good reason, we know now.