History an open book to Federer

NEW YORK -- One man’s seven set points squandered are another man’s seven set points saved, so naturally Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer used different ways to describe the decisive shift of power that resulted Sunday in Federer’s fourth U.S. Open title, 12th Grand Slam singles championship and a record $2.4-million payday.

The saver was the top-seeded Federer, who won, 7-6, (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4, and afterward went the musical route. The squanderer was No. 3 Djokovic, who took a literary angle in talking about the five set points he failed to convert in the first set and two more in the second.

“My next book is going to be called ‘Seven Set Points,’ ” Djokovic said, smiling. “I’m joking.”

Said Federer: “I mean, he had his chances today -- many of them. You could sing a song about it.”

How about the not-so-magnificent seven?

Not only did the crowd have for its entertainment the dressed-in-black Federer and his march toward history -- he is the first player in the open era to win four consecutive U.S. Opens, and he pulled to within two of Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles -- but also a meaningful foil in the 20-year-old Serb, who brought plenty of shot making and charm to his first Slam final.

Djokovic had the glamour edge in the friends’ box -- actor Robert De Niro and 2006 women’s champion Maria Sharapova in her chic oversized sunglasses. He also had Federer on his heels in the 12th game of the first set, serving at 6-5, 40-0, before suddenly losing his nerve and serve, and then his temper in the tiebreaker.

“Well, I can say that I’m sorry about turning back, about those set points,” Djokovic said. “Right now, I would dress up and go to the court and play this 40-0 point.”

Said Federer, who did not lose a set in his last three matches here: “I thought he was going to serve another big serve and I would be out of the set really. At this point, you have no hope.”

Djokovic recovered sufficiently to break Federer in the fourth game of the second set and went on to lead 4-1. But he again failed to cash in the advantage, missing two more set points in the 12th game, the second by about a millimeter.

“I cannot believe,” said Djokovic, who challenged the call. “I was asking the crowd what I need to do.”

With his 12th title at a Slam event, Federer left behind luminaries Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver and tied Roy Emerson for second all-time with 12. He earned $1.4 million for winning the Open, and an extra $1 million for winning the U.S. Open series.

Federer, 26, acknowledged that Sampras and the record are very much on his mind, a change in his mind-set. He will play Sampras in three exhibitions in Asia in the fall and at Madison Square Garden on March 10.

“I think about it a lot now, honestly,” he said. “In the beginning I felt pushed a little bit in the corner, put under pressure about the situation because if you don’t win Slams like that, it’s just too tough. . . . So to come so close already at my age is fantastic, and I really hope to break it.”

There is the matter of rivals too. Rafael Nadal has been front and center as the main one, and an insurmountable hurdle on clay. Djokovic pulled into the picture this year, reaching semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon and coming into sharper focus when he beat Federer last month in the Montreal final.

If the Serb isn’t quite ready for No. 1, how about No. 2?

“It probably depends who finishes better at the end of the year,” said Federer, who has reached the last 10 Grand Slam finals and won eight of them. “No. 2, No. 3, doesn’t matter much; it’s No. 1 that matters. That’s how it goes.”

Djokovic seized hold of the tournament and became a media star when he performed imitations of Sharapova and Nadal on the court after his quarterfinal victory against Carlos Moya and did one of Federer in the interview room.

You got the idea Federer wasn’t totally in the Djokovic moment.

“Well, in the locker room he’s always very respectful toward me,” Federer said. “He’s pretty quiet. I only hear stuff. . . . I know some guys weren’t happy. I know some guys might think it’s funny.

”. . . He’s walking a tightrope, for sure. If fans like it, it’s good for tennis, to be honest. It’s good to have a character like him out there, there’s no doubt.”

So, if Djokovic writes his own book about “Seven Set Points,” there could be this not-so-humble offering from Federer: “Twelve Grand Slams.”

Then again, the way Federer is going forward, and accumulating Slams, it could be out of date before the Australian Open in January.

--

lisa.dillman@latimes.com