Novak Djokovic US Open men's final

After a three-hour rain-delay start to the men's final at the US Open, Serbia's Novak Djokovic beat Swiss player Roger Federer in four sets: 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

The two players went into the match with Federer having won 21 times and Djokovic 20 times in their previous meetings.

Top-ranked Djokovic fell in the fourth game as he ran for a volley mid-court. With a bruised elbow and scratches to his forearm, hand and knee the 28-year-old Djokovic recovered to take the first set 6-4. The 34-year-old Federer made 15 unforced errors and delivered only 53 percent of his first serves in the first set.

Federer had only once beaten Djokovic from a set down.

Both players used all of the court. Federer used his chip and charge return on Djokovic's serve on several occasions. The shot came off the practice court, inspired by long-time coach Seve Luthi as Federer explained at a press conference: “At the end of practice we were just kidding around almost. I said, ‘Okay, I'm going to chip and charge and just keep the points short. I hit a couple for a winner. They were ridiculous."

The move goes by the acronym SABR, for "Sneak Attack By Roger" and has not met with approval from all commentators who consider it disrespectful. Former US Open winner and current TV commentator John McEnroe said "It wouldn't be much of a stretch for me to regard that as insulting. "Is my serve that bad that he can do that?'"

All court

In the second set, the players exchanged early service breaks and an exceptional set of tennis followed. An 11-minute service game from Djokovic saw him defend set points and take the game. But Federer held his serve and then broke in the next one to take the set on his fourth opportunity 7-5.

With the crowd firmly behind him, Federer served first in the third set. Djokovic broke to go up 2-1 before Federer broke again to level at 2-2. By that stage in the match there had been six breaks of serve. Federer had not lost a set in any of his previous matches on the way to the final. Djokovic took the set 6-4.

The fourth set began with another service break as Djokovic broke Federer. Federer had made 46 unforced errors to that point and made only 3 of 17 break points. Djokovic had made 31 unforced errors and taken 4 of 11 break points by the start of the fourth set.

After three hours of play, each player had won 130 points. Djokovic held for 4-2 and then broke to go up 5-2 before coming out to serve for the match. Federer broke and then held his own serve to take the match to 5-4. Djokovic came out to serve for the match for a second time. The Serbian player faced three more break points before closing out the match, taking the set 6-4.

Overseeing the match, Eva Asderaki-Moore of Greece became the first female chair umpire for a US Open men's singles final.

Next year's tournament should not see a rain delay for the final as the US Tennis Association is carrying out a $500 million (440 million-euro) renovation plan for the New York tournament site. It includes a retractable roof over the main court named for the late US player Arthur Ashe.

jm/bw (AP, Reuters)