The draw to an 18th Grand Slam title, which he had been targeting since winning Wimbledon in 2012, had never looked more inviting for Roger Federer when he stepped on the court to play Marin Cilic late Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the United States Open.
Gone were all other members of the Big 4 fraternity, the axis of dominance that had claimed 36 of the last 38 men’s tennis majors, from the French Open in 2005 to Wimbledon this summer.
Rafael Nadal did not play the tournament because of an injured wrist. Andy Murray went out in the quarterfinals to Novak Djokovic, the top seed, who was stunned Saturday by Kei Nishikori in the first semifinal at steamy Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After a rain-delayed start, all Federer had to do was defeat the 16th-ranked and 14th-seeded Cilic, to whom he had never lost, to establish himself as the heavy favorite in Monday’s final against Nishikori, the first Japanese man to reach a Slam final read full article
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