Ferrer Leads Djokovic Before U.S. Open Semis Match is Suspended
September 8, 2012 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Fourth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain led defending U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic 5-2 in the first set of their semifinal match on Saturday before play was suspended due to a severe weather system that hit the New York area. The semifinal is scheduled to resume at 11:00 a.m. EST on Sunday. The Men’s Singles Finals has been moved to Monday for the fifth straight year and will be played at 4: 00 p.m. EST. The winner will face Great Britain’s Andy Murray on Monday in the men’s finals after Murray’s 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(7) win over sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic on Saturday.
Battling tricky conditions, Ferrer performed better in the opening stages. The second-seeded Djokovic served with the wind in the first service game and came to net three times, losing all three points. Ferrer broke for a 1-0 lead by smartly playing a backhand lob for a winner. He dictated a number of points with his most reliable weapon, the forehand, to give himself a chance to serve for the set before tournament officials called off the match and evacuated Arthur Ashe Stadium.
