Roger Federer ends Novak Djokovic's proud run to set up familiar final

WITH daylight fading last night on Court Philippe Chatrier, Novak Djokovic's 43-match winning streak was ended in ruthless fashion by Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the French Open.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion beat the second-seeded Serb 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) last night and will face Rafael Nadal in tomorrow's final for the fourth time in six years.

Djokovic entered the French Open as the hottest player on tour. He had won all 41 matches in 2011, adding the two Davis Cup singles rubbers he won in the Davis Cup final. He had won every tournament he had played in 2011, including earning his second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open after beating Federer in their second straight major semi-final. But for a determined Federer, who showed clear glimpses of his very best, three times in a row was too many.

The third-seeded Swiss had an answer to just about everything Djokovic could muster, sending back shot after shot and waiting for his opponent to make the mistakes - even though Federer finished with 46 unforced errors, five more than Djokovic.

The two traded a pair of breaks in the first set, and Djokovic then led 5-4 in the tiebreaker when three unforced errors - a backhand and two forehands - gave Federer the set. In the second, Federer took Djokovic's serve to jump ahead 4-1 and held on to win it despite wasting nine more break chances. Djokovic got the early break in the third and ran out to a 3-0 lead, eventually taking the first set off Federer at this year's tournament. He also led in the fourth, and served for the set at 5-4. But Federer got his fourth break to soon send it back to a tiebreaker.

Once there, Federer was the Federer of old again. He took a 6-3 lead by winning three straight points, the latter two with an ace and service winner. He then won the match with his 18th ace of the match.

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Despite ending Djokovic's run, things won't get any easier against Nadal. Federer is 8-16 against his main rival, and 2-6 in Grand Slams. He has already lost to Nadal twice this year, in the semi-finals in Key Biscayne, Florida, and in Madrid.

Djokovic - who would have beaten John McEnroe's 1984 record of 42 wins since the start of a season - had not played since last Sunday, when he beat Richard Gasquet in straight sets in the fourth round. His quarter-final opponent, Fabio Fognini, withdrew a day later, giving the Serb a free ride into the semi-finals and perhaps that lack of razor-sharp match practice cost him against Federer.

lAndrea Hlavackova thought it was a joke when a friend gave her a shelf with the words "This is for Grand Slam trophies" written on it. But now she can furnish it with some silverware after she teamed up with Lucie Hradecka to win their first Grand Slam title. The unseeded Czech team defeated Sania Mirza of India and Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-4, 6-3 in the women's doubles final.