Roger Federer demanded sweeping changes to the US Open schedule after the rain-plagued Grand Slam tournament headed for a fourth successive Monday finish.
Federer, who reached the semi-finals by demolishing Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, said a Monday final was the best option, but there were deeper problems with the organisation of the four Grand Slam events.
"Playing a Monday final would not matter much to me as I have played my quarter-final, but out of fairness to the other half of the draw, it was the right thing to do," said Federer. "The problems lie elsewhere. Three early days for the first round and Super Saturday and Sunday are not feasible. TV should not dictate. But the players at the Grand Slams have less leverage and sometimes the system is abused."
Top seed and world number one Novak Djokovic said he was not happy to have a Monday final as it would eat into travel plans to reach Belgrade next week for the Davis Cup semi-final with Argentina.
Meanwhile, world number one Djokovic and five-time champion Federer set up a US Open semi-final blockbuster. Top-seed Djokovic, the runner-up in 2007 and 2010, booked his place in a fifth successive semi-final when Serbian Davis Cup-winning teammate Janko Tipsarevic retired with a left thigh injury.
It will be the fourth successive US Open semi-final meeting between Federer and Djokovic and first since the Swiss ended the Serb's 43-match winning run at the French Open in June.
Wozniacki books Serena semi-final showdown
World number one Caroline Wozniacki said her quarter-final appearance out on Flushing Meadows' modest court 13 on Thursday took her back to her junior days.
But her 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) victory over determined German Andrea Petkovic lined up a semi-final clash with Serena Williams that is anything but small-time.
Wozniacki and Petkovic were pushed out to court 13 because of water seeping to the surface of the Louis Armstrong Stadium court, which was water-logged after days of heavy rain.
"It actually reminded me of juniors," Wozniacki said of the small court with bleacher seating and shade trees, where Petkovic had an enthusiastic following.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2011.
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Please listen to Mr Federer's interview and then rewrite your headline. There was no "demand" for anything. Roger is a world class diplomat for the game and your mistaken headline paints does him a disservice. Maybe a change for your next edition?