New York - Novak Djokovic could only be amazed by the spectacular, between-the-legs, backward cross-court winner that gave Roger Federer three match points in their US Open semi-final Sunday on the way to a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-5 defeat of the fourth seed. "I get the feeling he plays more relaxed in the last couple of years, because now he became a father and got married and broke all the records," the stunned Serb said of the 15-time Grand Slam champion.
"He just gets on the court, and he wants to play his best and win more. That's what makes him even more dangerous. That's why he plays even better."
Djokovic joined a New York crowd of 23,000 in applauding Federer's superhuman effort in pursuit of a lob: "You saw the reaction of the crowd. I mean, what can I say? You just say, 'Well done, too good.' What can you do?"
The Serb has now lost nine of 13 matches in the series but stands 2-2 this season against Federer.
"I won against this guy four times in the past, so I knew the way I should play," Djokovic said. "But in these moments he comes up with some great shots. He comes up with very, very precise serves, which give him a lot of advantage, and that's why he's the best in the world.
"You have got to give him all the credit for that."
The 2008 champion at the Australian Open - where he beat Federer in the semi-finals - Djokovic said he had to keep believing in himself even after the tough loss to the Swiss legend.
"Winning a Grand Slam and winning against most of the top players that are active right now gives me enough hope and enough reason to believe that I can be number one," said the number four.
"You can't rely on one tournament, one Grand Slam. You have to play consistent throughout the whole year, and that's the key. When you are playing and competing against the player like Roger, who played 22 consecutive semi-finals of a Grand Slam, then that proves enough."
