Roger Federer moves within a match of US Open title

Roger Federer moved within one victory of his fourth-straight US Open title, beating No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko 7-5, 6-1, 7-5 on Saturday to stretch his winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 26 matches.

Federer, who will be seeking to become the first man to win four consecutive US championships since Bill Tilden in 1925, will face No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who earlier on Saturday overcame the late summer heat and humidity of New York City to beat 15th-seeded David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

"I'm always very well-prepared for the majors. I know what it takes," Federer said. "When the second week comes around, I play my best."

In yesterday's championship match, Federer was to face the only man to beat him over the past three months.

"I guess the best players of the summer are in the final," said Federer, all too aware that he lost to Djokovic at a hard-court event in Montreal early last month.

That was Djokovic's big breakthrough: He also beat Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick there, becoming the first man in 13 years to beat Nos. 1-3 in the rankings at a single tournament.

While Djokovic will be aiming for his first major title, Federer will be trying to tie Roy Emerson for second in tennis history behind Pete Sampras' 14. The Swiss will be playing in his 10 consecutive Grand Slam final.

"I need to believe in myself, because otherwise I wouldn't get the positive outcome," Djokovic said. "I don't want to go out tomorrow and try to do my best or try to perform well. No, I'll go tomorrow to try to win."

With the temperature surpassing 30?C during his semi-final, Djokovic was too spent afterward to reprise the sort of act he performed after winning in the quarter-finals, when he drew guffaws by doing spot-on imitations of Maria Sharapova and Nadal.

"Last two days, the people were more congratulating me for the impressions than for my tennis," Djokovic said.