Andy Roddick used his serve to subdue Mikhail Youzhny 6-7 (5), 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-3 on Saturday and earn another chance at top-seeded and heavily favored Roger Federer in the final of the US Open.
"I'm going to go enjoy this for about five minutes," said Roddick, the 2003 champion. "I'm going to eat and try to get some sleep and come out and try to win a US Open tomorrow [yesterday]."
Hours earlier, the No. 1-ranked Federer charged into his sixth straight Grand Slam final, overwhelming Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.
Federer is 10-1 lifetime against Roddick, winning 24 of 28 sets.
"I'm just going to throw it all at him," Roddick said. "If the guy plays too well, he plays too well."
Asked what Roddick needed to do to stop the two-time defending US Open champ yesterday, Youzhny paused.
"I never beat Roger, I don't know," said Youzhny, winless in seven matches against Federer.
Roddick dominated when he had the ball in his hand, winning 43 of 50 points on serve toward the end. He closed the seventh game in the final set with boomers over 209kph, prompting him to call across the net to the 54th-ranked Youzhny.
Youzhny tried several tactics to slow Roddick down. The Russian took his time getting ready to receive serves and bounced around when Roddick got set.
"My pace on my serve?" Roddick demanded of the chair umpire.
Youzhny backed off after that, which Roddick appreciated, saying, "that was a nice move on his part."
Roddick played under control, with 18 unforced errors to Youzhny's 48.
"I tried to start stepping into my shots a little more. I took a page out of a guy named Andre Agassi's book and stepped on the baseline," Roddick said.
Federer has noticed an improvement in Roddick's game.
"He's serving much better again. That's what was letting him down the last year or so. People were returning him too easy," Federer said.
The top-seeded Federer never had to sweat in his earlier match, showing off pinpoint serves, sizzling backhands and crushing forehands. His only slowdown in the semi-final romp came when he and Davydenko held up as jets leaving nearby La Guardia Airport roared overhead.
Federer won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year and is trying for his third consecutive US Open title. He is the first man in the Open era, which began in 1968, to reach six Slam finals in a row.
"I thought I played really well today," Federer said. "I enjoy being on the biggest stage in the final moments."
Federer improved to 8-0 lifetime against the No. 7 Davydenko and has won 18 of 19 sets at this tournament.
"He's No. 1, that's why I think he's winning everything," Davydenko said. "He was too fast."
Federer figured he would be playing several thousand opponents in the final -- Roddick and the fans.
"I think it's more enjoyable if the crowd really gets into it," Federer said. "Against the Americans here, it's automatic that you'll have the crowd."
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