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Djokovic beats Stepanek in Swiss Indoors semifinal
By GRAHAM DUNBAR,
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) Novak Djokovic saved three match points before rallying to beat Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2 on Saturday in the Swiss Indoors semifinals.
The third-ranked Djokovic trailed 5-4 in the second set and was 0-40 down before reeling off five straight points to win the game.
"I wouldn't say necessarily it was my good shots that prevented the loss. It was luck only," Djokovic said. "I just tried to get some first serves in and at least get that advantage. On this (hard-court) surface, it's crucial."
He then broke the 14th-ranked Stepanek's serve for the first time before dominating the decider.
Djokovic's ATP Tour-leading 70th win this year carried him into his ninth final, also best on tour. He is 3-5 in title matches in 2009.
The 22-year-old Serb will take on a local favorite in Sunday's final at the 1.75 million ($2.58 million) event.
Three-time defending champion Roger Federer faced childhood friend Marco Chiudinelli in the other semifinal. The 28-year-olds were rivals playing tennis and football growing up in Basel.
"If I play Marco it will obviously be better for me," Djokovic said. "If I play Roger it's going to be a tough one."
Djokovic had beaten Stepanek easily in the last 16 at the U.S. Open in September.
But the 30-year-old Czech forced him to save two break points in the opening game, and took control of the first-set tiebreaker with a pair of overhead winners.
Djokovic's first serves faltered in the second set, and a double fault gave Stepanek three match points.
Djokovic responded with heavy serves and ground strokes, and needed just one set point on his next service game. He converted it with a forehand winner.
In the decider, Djokovic got service breaks in the first and seventh games before closing out victory.
Updated November 7, 2009
© 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.