World No. 3 Novak Djokovic will have the opportunity to defend his Internazionali BNL d’Italia title after recovering from a set and a break down to oust two-time former finalist Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome.
In a repeat of the recent Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters final, Djokovic will take on three-time former champion Rafael Nadal after the top-ranked Spaniard rolled past Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-3 later on Saturday.
It will be the first final between two Rome champions since 1978, when Bjorn Borg beat Italian Adriano Panatta in five sets.
"He's going to be the absolute favourite to win it again, but I have my chances, especially after the great performance in Monte-Carlo," said Djokovic. "I have no reason not to believe that I can win. I won a set against him in Monte-Carlo. I played really good start of the third set, and learned that I have to really play every point against him. So that's what I'm going to try to do tomorrow. Physically to prepare, to be ready to play long rallies, because that is what is happening when you play against him, and just wait for the chances."
Djokovic, who defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in the 2008 final, will contest his third consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final of the year after finishing runner-up to Andy Murray in Miami and Rafael Nadal in Monte-Carlo two weeks ago. The Serbian has four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 shields to his name, triumphing at Miami (d. Canas) and Montreal (d. Federer) in 2007 and at Indian Wells (d. Fish) and Rome last year.
World No. 3 Novak Djokovic will have the opportunity to defend his Internazionali BNL d’Italia title after recovering from a set and a break down to oust two-time former finalist Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 clay-court tournament in Rome.In a repeat of the recent Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters final, Djokovic will take on three-time former champion Rafael Nadal after the top-ranked Spaniard rolled past Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-3 later on Saturday.
It will be the first final between two Rome champions since 1978, when Bjorn Borg beat Italian Adriano Panatta in five sets.
"He's going to be the absolute favourite to win it again, but I have my chances, especially after the great performance in Monte-Carlo," said Djokovic. "I have no reason not to believe that I can win. I won a set against him in Monte-Carlo. I played really good start of the third set, and learned that I have to really play every point against him. So that's what I'm going to try to do tomorrow. Physically to prepare, to be ready to play long rallies, because that is what is happening when you play against him, and just wait for the chances."
Djokovic, who defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in the 2008 final, will contest his third consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final of the year after finishing runner-up to Andy Murray in Miami and Rafael Nadal in Monte-Carlo two weeks ago. The Serbian has four ATP World Tour Masters 1000 shields to his name, triumphing at Miami (d. Canas) and Montreal (d. Federer) in 2007 and at Indian Wells (d. Fish) and Rome last year.
(From Website : http://www.atpworldtour.com/TENNIS/1/EN/NEWS/NEWSARTICLE_3417.ASP)
