Vintage Federer stuns Djokovic to make final

Roger Federer blasts a forehand to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semi-final match in the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships yesterday. Federer won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

DPA/Dubai

Roger Federer reversed the early momentum with an assault on the net to defeat champion Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 yesterday and reach an eighth career final at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The fourth seed who won his first desert title in 2003, will face a Saturday test against Tomas Berdych.

Third seed Berdych won his 11th straight match to reach his second straight Dubai final, defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 7-5.

Berdych, who came in as Rotterdam champion, lost a year ago to Djokovic.

Federer, in the hunt for his sixth trophy at the Gulf event, ended a three-match win streak in their series for world number two Djokovic, who now trails 15-17 overall.

“There was a special buzz tonight,” Federer said of the hyped-up match atmosphere. “I had a tough start, Novak had me on the back foot.

“But I was able to recover and used my transition game well. I attacked when I could.

“This is a place where I’ve had a lot of success and I’m looking forward to another final. Tomas has been playing great tennis this season and he beat me in our last two matches. I’ll have my work cut out.”

Federer was the wildly popular favourite among a sellout crowd of 5,000, with his every success greeted with loud, sustained cheers.

The match was halted for five minutes by a few passing raindrops in the second set, but the slight pause did not derail the growing Federer momentum.

After losing the 35-minute opening set, the fourth seeded Swiss went to work against Djokovic, who was playing for the first time this week since the Australian Open.

Federer broke for 4-2 on his third opportunity of the sixth game from an increasing array of Djokovic errors. Federer levelled the sets with his fourth ace four games later.

The Swiss began the final set with a break as Djokovic double-faulted away the first game. An insurance break for 4-1 sent Federer on his way, with the 17-time grand slam champion seeing out the set, and the match, soon after.

Earlier Berdych recovered from 4-2 down against Kohlschreiber in the opening set to win it and played steady, consistent tennis in the second set.

“It was a difficult match but I’m very glad to be in a second final,” said Berdych. “I’m hitting the ball nice and clean and playing to a high standard.”

Berdych advanced with five aces and 23 winners, breaking on three of seven opportunities.

“I managed to refocus myself and stay calm, and waiting for my chance (trailing in the first set),” said Berdych. “When it came I was ready for it, and I took the first set.”