Roger Federer moved to within one win of his 12th Grand Slam title after he battled to a 7-5 6-1 7-5 win over fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko to reach the US Open final on Saturday.
Russian Davydenko had two match points in the third set but three-times champion Federer hit back to clinch victory and set up a final against 20-year-old Novak Djokovic, the third seed from Serbia.
"It was tough and I thought it was quite windy today," said the Swiss world No.1 (right).
"When I came back in the first set I started to play really well. Then I had some chances early in the third set but after that he started to play much better and made it tough. In the end, I am relieved to get through." Federer is now in his 10th consecutive Grand Slam final and is going for his fourth US Open title in a row.
Djokovic beat David Ferrer of Spain 6-4 6-4 6-3 to reach his first Grand Slam final.
He has been tipped by many inside the sport to break Federer's dominance at the final Grand Slam of the year.
"I think I'm ready and I need to be ready," said Djokovic. "I need to think like this. I need to believe in myself, because otherwise I won't get a positive outcome.
"I don't want to go out tomorrow and try to do my best or to perform well. No, I'll go tomorrow to try to win."
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JONATHAN PEARCE
ALEC STEWART
THE MOLE