Victorious Djokovic booed for verbal attack on Roddick

Twelve months ago Novak Djokovic was the darling of Arthur Ashe Stadium, delighting fans with his post-match impersonations of other players. In today's semi-final against Roger Federer he will be the bogeyman, having left the arena on Thursday night to prolonged booing following his 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 victory over Andy Roddick.

As if beating the local hero was not enough, Djokovic enraged the 23,000 crowd in his courtside post-match interview. The 21-year-old Serb had been upset by Roddick's pre-match comments, when the American implied that Djokovic might have been exaggerating his injuries in his previous match. Asked which ankle Djokovic had injured against Tommy Robredo, Roddick had replied: "Isn't it both of them? And a back and a hip? And a cramp, bird flu, anthrax, Sars, a common cough and cold?"

After beating Roddick, Djokovic told the crowd: "Andy was saying that I have 16 injuries in the last match, so obviously I don't, right? That's not nice anyhow to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I am faking it."

Boos rang around the stadium, but Djokovic went on: "They [the crowd] are already against me because they think I am faking everything, so sorry. I am really happy playing against Roddick on his court and in his city in his favourite tournament. To win against him is a huge effort."

Djokovic later apologised, admitting he may have overreacted, while Roddick insisted that his comments had been made only in jest, but added: "I figure if you're going to joke and imitate other people and do the whole deal, then you should take it."

Federer, who beat Djokovic in last year's final, reached his 18th successive Grand Slam semi-final by beating Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, a qualifier, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6. The Swiss is now unbeaten in his last 32 matches here.

Three questions for Andy Roddick

1. Can you take some positives out of the US Open?

I was playing absolute crap when I got here. I mean, really, really bad. I wasn't confident after coming back from the injuries, but I ended up playing some good tennis here. I feel better than I did at the beginning of the summer. I feel like I'm going in the better direction now than I was.

2. What did you think of the umpire who gave a warning to a section of fans for their behaviour during a match?

It's sport. You're supposed to go after someone. There's supposed to be tense moments, you're supposed to yell, you're supposed to scream. All of a sudden if there's a net and rackets involved, you can't do that. If someone tosses a ball up and you yell, then I think that's a direct distraction. If it's between points, they can do whatever they want. It only adds to the atmosphere.

3. Do you look at Roger Federer any differently now? He's not playing the way he has over the last few years.

You're brutal. The guy has only made two Grand Slam finals this year! I would love his bad year. I would love it. It would be great. I'd be really happy with that right now.

Paul Newman

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