Federer, del Potro advance to final

NEW YORK (AP) — And for his next act ...

Roger Federer punctuated his latest U.S. Open victory Sunday with a shot he called, quite simply, the greatest of his life: a between-the-legs, back-to-the-net, cross-court winner from the baseline.

A point later, with the crowd in hysterics and opponent Novak Djokovic still in shock, the world’s top-ranked player closed out the victory, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5, to move one win from his sixth straight U.S. Open title.

OK, who’s got next?

Juan Martin del Potro is the lucky guy whose first career Grand Slam final will come today against Federer, who made his 17th in the last 18. Earlier in the day, No. 6 Del Potro beat No. 3 Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Fourth-seeded Djokovic fought for more than 2 1/2 hours on a day that grew increasingly windy at Arthur Ashe Stadium, hanging with Federer and even grabbing two break points late in the third set to briefly see a glimmer of hope.

Some things, though, there are no answers for, and the winner Federer hit to set up match point was Exhibit A. It’s the kind of shot every tennis player has tried — oh, a thousand times or so. The best player in the world practices it, too.

“A lot, actually,” he said. “But they never work. That’s why, I guess, it was the greatest shot I ever hit in my life.”

Ahead 6-5 and 30-0 in the third set, Federer sprinted to the net to return a Djokovic drop shot, then Djokovic finessed a lob over Federer’s head that bounced barely inside the baseline.

Federer had nothing to lose, of course, so he ran back and hit the circus shot, a ball that lots of players, especially at the highest levels, can get back.

But few can do what Federer did with his — i.e., hit a blazing winner that barely clears the net. Federer jumped and shouted. Djokovic could only stand there and smile. He reached in his pocket to find the ball he’d serve to bring the match to a merciful end — for him, at least.

“You just say, ‘Well done,’ ” Djokovic said. “What can you do?”

This was exactly the kind of memory the U.S. Open needed after a weekend filled with rain delays and controversy.

Federer’s shot — that was one-in-a-million.

“I don’t want to mention the word luck, but I didn’t have it today,” Djokovic said. “That’s why I’m a little bit disappointed.”

Not that there wasn’t plenty for him to get demoralized about before “The Shot.”

Had that not occurred, the point that would have defined the match — and what it’s like to play Federer — came at 5-all in the second set. Djokovic was a sitting duck at the net, yet somehow managed to get five straight reflex volleys back to Federer, who was standing at the service line, teeing off.