Nadal sets up Federer showdown
Saturday, 7 July 2007 15:31Rafael Nadal reached his second consecutive Wimbledon final today when opponent Novak Djokovic was forced to retire midway through their Court One clash.
Clearly struggling with a left foot injury, Djokovic performed admirably to take the first set off the second-seeded Spaniard but ultimately crumbled and retired when he trailed 3-6 6-1 4-1.
After taking one minute shy of five hours to dispose of Marcos Baghdatis yesterday, the Serb was not ready for the baseline fire of Nadal, who by contrast had cruised past Thomas Berdych in straight sets.
But in an unexpected twist, Djokovic - who had also been plagued by back problems during this tournament - started well and broke Nadal in his opening service game.
After serving out confidently to take the first set, Djokovic began to hobble around the baseline, and Nadal's early break in the second proved enough to put him back on level terms.
Having called a medical time-out for treatment on his troublesome foot, Djokovic saved two break points in his opening service game of the third set but was broken two games later.
The premature ending now seemed inevitable, and after a poor double fault and a feeble forehand into the net which gave Nadal the double-break, Djokovic sadly called it a day.
