Djokovic, Federer to face off for fifth time this season

Basle (Switzerland), Nov 8 : Roger Federer won his 19th match at home to reach a fourth consecutive Swiss Indoors final, where second seed Novak Djokovic is waiting.

Federer, 59-8 in this season of four titles including the French Open and Wimbledon, beat longtime friend Marco Chiudinelli 7-6 (9-7), 6-3, while Djokoic saved three match points against Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-2 in his second fightback win in a row here Saturday.

The Serb second seed, who also had to recover in his quarter-final over Stanislas Wawinka, performed the escape act again to win his record 70th match of the season.

"I'm happy where my game's at right now," said Federer. "But I hope to pick up a bit more speed for the final. The crowd will be on my side and that's an advantage.

"Djokovic has been playing some solid tennis, he's stayed calm in tough situations twice this week in matches. We usually have tough matches, it depends a lot on who has the better day."

Top seed Federer owns the last three trophies at his Basle hometown event, last losing in the 2003 second round.

He needed nearly 90 minutes to get past the 73rd-ranked Chiudinelli in their firs ATP meeting.

Federer leads Djokovic 9-4 in their career series, standing 2-2 his season with he Serb.

Chiudinelli saved a set point in opening set but was unable to impose as Federer took the set and ultimately the match, ending it on his first opportunity.

"I tried to be focused, especially in the tiebreak," said Federer. "On this surface you can suddenly be down love-30, it can go quickly.

"But I'm ready for a tough match."

Djokovic will be playing his ninth final of the season and owns three titles in 2009.

Djokovic was in desperate straits as he trailed a set and 4-5 against Stepanek.

But facing what could have been a short afternoon defeat, Djokovic struggled, saving the three match points to level a 5-5 in he second set, then broke and served out the next game to level on a set each.

Once his confidence returned, the Serb dominated all the way to victory in two and a half hours.

"I played well and I'm so happy to be in the final," said the winner. "The public really helped me when I was 4-5, 0-40 down, they got me though.

"I'm very proud to get to this final, I'm fresh and I'm ready."

--IANS