In the 2011 US Open semifinals, Novak Djokovic completed a remarkable comeback against Roger Federer to book his place in the championship match.
Djokovic trailed by two sets in the match, but managed to dig deep and claw his way back into the contest against Federer, who looked to regain the crown at Flushing Meadows.
In the fifth set, the Serb found himself a break down, as his Swiss opponent looked to close in on the victory at 5-3.
Fighting to stay in the US Open at 40-15, Djokovic returned Federer’s serve with a powerful cross-court winner and took the next point to bring it to deuce before going on to win the set and ultimately the match.
Roger Federer’s reaction to Novak Djokovic’s comeback at the US Open in 2011
Following the clash, Federer was asked in his press conference if he could have hit a better serve on his first match point.
He answered: “Yeah, much better. I didn’t hit the best serve. But it’s just the way he returns that.
“It’s just not a guy who believes much, you know, anymore in winning. Then to lose against someone like that, it’s very disappointing, because you feel like he was mentally out of it already.
“Just gets the lucky shot at the end, and off you go.”
A reporter followed up: “When a guy hits a shot like that forehand on match point, is that a function of luck, of risk, or is it a function of confidence?”
Federer responded: “Confidence? Are you kidding me? I mean, please. Look, some players grow up and play like that.
“I remember losing junior matches. Just being down 5-2 in the third, and they all just start slapping shots. It all goes in for some reason, because that’s the kind of way they grew up playing when they were down.
“I never played that way. I believe in hard work’s gonna pay off kinda thing, because early on, maybe I didn’t always work at my hardest. So, for me, this is very hard to understand how you can play a shot like that on match point.
“But, look, maybe he’s been doing it for 20 years, so for him it was very normal. You’ve got to ask him.”
Roger Federer said it was ‘awkward’ explaining his loss to Novak Djokovic
Federer continued: “I mean, it’s awkward having to explain this loss because I feel like I should be doing the other press conference. But it’s what it is, you know, I mean.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s the obvious, really. He came back; he played well. I didn’t play so well at the very end. Sure, it’s disappointing, but I have only myself to blame, you know.
“I had it. There’s no more I could do. Snaps one shot, and then the whole thing changes. It’s strange how it goes, you know, but it was a good tournament for me.
“Sure, I’d love to be in the finals and give myself a chance to win the title, which is not the case now. So I have to accept that and move on.”
Djokovic went on to beat defending champion Rafael Nadal in the final to claim his fourth Grand Slam title.
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