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Federer, Djokovic set up dream US Open final

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New York: Swiss legend Roger Federer reached his first US Open final in six years on Friday and shall take on world number one Novak Djokovic in the dream men’s singles final slated for Sunday.

Five-time champion Federer, 34, bidding to become the oldest New York champion since 1970, made short work of his compatriot Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 in the semifinals.

Djokovic, the 2011 champion, booked a place in the final for the sixth time with an uncharacteristic 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 rout of defending champion Marin Cilic in the most one-sided US Open semifinal of the modern era, as per reported.

Sunday’s clash will be a rematch of July’s Wimbledon final, where Djokovic triumphed to claim his ninth career Grand Slam crown.

Federer, the holder of 17 majors but without a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon in 2012, will take a 21-20 career edge over Djokovic into the championship match, having won their last duel in Cincinnati in August.

The Swiss mogul was imperious against Wawrinka and his victory means he has not dropped a set since the Wimbledon final, a perfect stretch of 28 sets, as he reached a seventh US Open final.

“I’m very happy. It’s been a great tournament so far, I have tried very hard in the last six years to get back to the final and tonight it worked,” Federer said.

On Sunday, he will face Djokovic for the sixth time this year — all have been in finals.

“Novak has had a tremendous year. There’s a lot on the line. He could win his third Slam of the year while I can win my first for some time.

“He’s the best mover on hard courts. He will be tough to beat but I am ready for the challenge,” said Federer.

Djokovic has now reached the finals of all four majors this year, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles and finishing runner-up to Wawrinka in Paris.

It took Djokovic just 85 minutes to see off Cilic, whose hopes were undermined by an ankle injury.

“Marin has had an ankle injury so he was very courageous to come out and finish the match,” said Djokovic, who will be chasing a 10th Grand Slam title on Sunday.

“It’s never easy knowing that your opponent is not 100 percent but I had to show good intensity and stick to my game plan.

“It’s a great achievement to reach the finals of all four majors in the same year for the first time. It’s where you want to do your best,” the Serb added.

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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia

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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.

Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.

Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”

Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.

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