A Recurring Dream

Djokovic had good reason to believe in his chances Friday. He had won 43 straight matches,including all 41 he had played this year. He had beaten Federer three times and Rafael Nadal four times,twice on red clay. And now Djokovic after leaving his family as a teenager and traveling the world in search of an unlikely goal was one victory from assuring himself of becoming No. 1 for the first time.

But Federer,in one of his most stirring performances,slammed the brakes on all that momentum,winning this high-velocity semifinal,7-6 5,6-3,3-6,7-6 5,and wagging his right index finger as he walked to the net with roars of approval ringing in his ears from the crowd that had chanted Ro-ger for much of the match.

Federer,winner of a mens record 16 Grand Slam singles titles,including the 2009 French Open,had played the unusual role of spoiler to perfection. And instead of watching a new-age final between Djokovic and Nadal on Sunday,the fans in Paris will now see the latest installment of the classic Federer-Nadal rivalry.

It always seems to me that Rafa needs to be in the French Open final to make it special,and I got the match I guess I was hoping, Federer said. After beating Novak,its in a way a gift that I get the chance,and Im looking forward to it.

Nadal,who beat Andy Murray,6-4,7-5,6-4,in Fridays first semifinal,has not given Federer much reason for optimism in Paris. With his high-bouncing forehand causing big trouble for Federers one-handed backhand,Nadal,a five-time champion,has won all four of their French Open matches and humiliated him in their last encounter at Roland Garros,winning the 2008 final,6-1,6-3,6-0.

Vintage Federer

But Federer,long No. 1 but now No. 3,is moving and striking the ball with particular conviction at the moment,and he needed his finest match of the season to defeat Djokovic. He needed to fight through consistent adversity to grab the first set in a tie breaker,needed to avoid an emotional letdown in the second and then,with Djokovic willing himself to a higher plane,needed to find a way to break him when he served for the fourth set at 5-4 in the gloaming.

There would not have been sufficient light to play a fifth set,but Federer solved that problem,too,in the tie breaker: hitting an ace and a powerful service winner to get to 6-3 and then coming up with another ace at 6-5 to seal the victory in four sets on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Federers victory also preserved his friendly archrival Nadals No. 1 status for the time being,which Federer said was appropriate considering that Friday was Nadals 25th birthday.

Perhaps its a nice present for him that I beat Novak today,

Federer said.

Why theirs is an EpiC Rivalry

Of a total of 24 previous meetings,Nadal has won a commanding 16 times,while Federer has been less than satisfied with exactly half the number eight victories.

A record 18 of those incredible duels have unfolded in the final stage. Out of the remaining six,five of them have been in the semis,and once in the round of 32 their first ever meeting.

No two players have met as often in a Grand Slam final. In the title clash of a Slam,Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe met four times,Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras faced each other on five occasions. Federer and Nadal will face each other for the eighth time on Sunday.

At Roland Garros,Federer and Nadal have met on four occasions once in the semis 05,and thrice in the final 06,07 and 08. The Swiss has always ended up on the losing side.

Out of a total of 13 clay meetings,Federer has vanquished Nadal just twice once in the final at Hamburg in 2008,and the other at the same stage in Madrid in 2009.

CHRISTOPHER CLAREY