Federer Ends Djokovic’s Reign, Faces Nadal In Final

An imperious display by Roger Federer saw him end Novak Djokovic’s 43-match winning run and set up a meeting with Rafael Nadal in the French Open final.

Federer, chasing a 17th Grand Slam, sealed a memorable 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) win in three hours 39 minutes.

The 29-year-old Swiss, according to bbcsports, edged a pulsating first set on a tie-break and took the second with a barrage of ground strokes.

A clearly rattled Djokovic roared back in the third set but Federer, serving magnificently, was not to be denied.

The 2009 champion is into his fifth final at Roland Garros in the last six years, and on this resurgent form represents a serious threat to Nadal, so often his nemesis in Paris.

A jubilant Federer said: “I was very confident, especially once I was up 7-6 4-1. I kind of felt like this match is not going to slip out my hands, even though I probably missed another 10 or 15 break points at the end of the second set.

“I just felt you don’t give me such a lead and then think you can crawl back into the match. I knew I was probably going to close it out.”