There’s gonna be fireworks aplenty when world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and world No. 2 Roger Federer meet on center court for the Final of the 2015 U.S. Open. Djokovic has looked rather shaky in Arthur Ashe Stadium with some difficult matches against the likes of Roberto Bautista Agut and Feliciano Lopez. Meanwhile, Federer is playing possibly the best tennis of his life as he’s yet to drop a set in the tournament.
Can Djokovic still channel his true form in time for this spectacular conclusion to this year’s Grand Slam season? Read on as we give you everything you need to know heading into this monumental showdown.
The U.S. Open won’t be the only thing rocking the American sports scene on Sunday; the NFL Regular Season will also be in play. Check out two of the biggest games this week in the Ravens vs. Broncos and the Sunday Night Football marquee matchup of Giants vs. Cowboys.
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Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer Preview
Where: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows, New York
Novak Djokovic was getting tired of all the chatter that he wasn’t playing at his best. He dropped a set in both of his matches against unheralded Roberto Bautista Agut and Feliciano Lopez, including having to go to a tie-breaker to win against the latter. But Djokovic wasn’t to be outdone, beating defending US Open champion Marin Cilic in straight sets (6-0, 6-1, 6-2) in the semifinals.
[sc:Other240banner ]Djokovic now faces his biggest challenge all tournament long (and seemingly all throughout his entire career) in Roger Federer. He shouldn’t be too worried, though; the world No. 1 has won five of his past seven meetings against the Swiss in Grand Slam tournaments. However, their recent meetings on hard surfaces have been much more contested. Djokovic has lost three of their past five meetings on the hard court.
The Serb stands a good chance of adding yet another Grand Slam trophy to his collection if he can get past Federer’s stellar return game. Djokovic will have to counter with his strong serves after winning 73 percent of his service points in the U.S. Open, including 64 percent on second serve. To add, he has won 70 percent of his service points in his last four matches against Federer.
Djokovic has won four of his last six finals matches against Federer on tour.
Roger Federer has been unstoppable at the U.S. Open. He’s yet to drop a set in this tournament, most recently capped off by a masterful straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 6-1) victory over 2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals. Federer is has been well-prepared for the upcoming match against Djokovic after facing a handful of big and powerful servers in his road to the finals.
The world No. 2 has put on a spectacular display of return tennis at the U.S. Open thus far. He won 42 percent of his return points in his last three matches against Wawrinka, Richard Gasquet and John Isner, all stellar servers. He managed to break Wawrinka and Gasquet in 10 of 24 opportunities. As such, Federer looks more than ready for Djokovic’s power-based game.
What makes Federer even more dangerous is his own amazing serve; he’s won 83 percent of his first serve points over his last three matches. The last time Federer met Djokovic on the hard court, he also won 83 percent of his first serve points, and 79 percent of his second serve points en route to a straight-sets victory in the Cincinnati Open Finals.
Federer has been on an amazing 11-match win streak on hard surfaces. He could make it 12 straight with another masterful performance in the U.S. Open Finals.
Writer’s Prediction
Djokovic (-140) gets the better of his Swiss rival, winning a five-set thriller.
