"The Match"

Some had said that Federer may find it difficult to win a major title again, a habit that he had developed to the annoyance of all the other players for most of his career. Last rites had been performed, obituaries written, statues started to be built in memory of the once great master of the game.

However there is something romantic about Paris not only in Spring but in the Summer of 2011. The romantic tale generated here to out sell all others is the rebirth of Roger. Rated a chance by most experts of reaching the semi finals but losing to the impregnable Djokovic, Federer defied all and sundry by playing the best tennis of the tournament to reach the semi final match up, and failing to drop a set on the journey there.

What we witnessed on Friday evening and into the night was every positive adjective one could find in a thesaurus and some more that have yet to be invented. Facing an opponent who had not lost to anyone since last November, Roger Federer played imperiously from the outset, forcing the Serbian star to come and join him on the ride to donate to the paying audience possibly the greatest semi final in mens Grand Slam tournament play since Federer's loss to Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open.

The surface was clay, but it may as well have been a kitchen floor because the shots that the players created made nonsense of any environmental determinants that may have existed. Despite exchanging service breaks, it was Novak who had to draw from the well more times to stay with the Swiss maestro, and yet all of a sudden the Serb stood at set point 4-5 on Roger's serve. But as Sampras used to do so immaculately, and Roger has continued in his footsteps to do, big points were played with the best tennis and Roger saved himself. A tiebreak was appropriate and Federer proved his capacity to control these better than the rest as he won through to take the set 7-6.

The Swiss are neutral but the crowd was anything but as they erupted when Roger grasped the significant early advantage. Of course early being the operative word. Still plenty with which to be concerned on the other side of the net. Federer had been dictating with his serve and the return of Djokovic, expected to expose Roger, had not reeked as much havoc as predicted.

A subdued Serb suffered at the hands of a rampant Roger early in the second set. Down a break, Roger did not want to let Novak back - a two set break would be a huge mountain to climb. At 2-5, Djokovic summoned all his willpower to struggle out of a service game of trouble and even then to have a chance to break Federer, but once more the Swiss superstar blocked the opportunity, and clinched a 6-3 second set to add to the earlier first set that he had collected.

Now there was a doubt whether the match could conclude should Novak make a comeback. No way could 5 sets be completed before darkness so we could have been back to watch more of this cracker of a match. As expected of a top player, Djokovic did make the comeback, and through exhilarating tennis that has been his trademark all season, he troubled Federer, reading his slice and handling his serve much better. Against all the crowd support, the Serb took the set 6-3, and the match was closer to back in the balance but still with Federer the favorite.

The fourth set couldn't be any better. Oh yes it could! We saw some of the best rallies of the tournament in this part of the match, including the single best rally I personally witnessed ended with an astonishing winner from Roger at a key stage of the set. Djokovic achieved the break in the ninth game due to the worst service game from Roger for the match, but when serving for two sets all, the pressure showed, and experienced Roger went for the kill and the break back for 5-5.

The two exchanged serves, but not before at 30-30 and 5-6 Novak played the bravest and best of drop shot winners to reach game point which could have set up a match point for Roger.

A tie break followed, and Roger led early again before the Serb fightback. An ace from Djokovic made it 5-6 giving Roger centre stage to serve for the match, having had 2 match points saved by Novak. What better way to place an exclamation mark on a famous victory in a tremendous match than to serve yet another ace.

Vintage Roger outplayed a player who may one day be classed in the upper echelons of the games, but only marginally. A year or so ago, these matches would have been over for Novak in a lot shorter time than the three and a half hours it took Federer to subdue him. Fight and talent are both key to the Serbian game now.

For Roger he has yet another date with Rafa in a Grand Slam tournament final - the first time they have met at such a stage since the 2009 Australian Open. If Sunday is anywhere near as great as that five setter, then we can expect another treat, and I love being spoilt here in Paris!