Djokovic Alerts Medics To Sick Fan During U.S. Open; Then Saves Match vs. Federer

In a strange moment during Saturday's U.S. Open match between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium started whistling like baby birds in a feeding frenzy.  The noise seemed to annoy No. 1 seed Djokovic until he noticed that there was a person who fainted in the upper-most section of the arena and spectators were whistling for help.

It was during the second set of the men's semi-final match when the Serbian, who was down 3-1 when the commotion began, alerted officials to the stricken fan slumped over in his seat.  No. 3 seed Federer, who won the first tiebreaker set 7-6 looked on.

Even for the boisterous tennis crowds in Flushing Meadows, the excessive whistling seemed loud.

After the eagle-eyed Djokovic knew that the fan was being attended to, he immediately turned his attention back to his game.

Djokovic was asked by the referee if he wanted to continue play.  Djokovic grabbed a ball and pressed on.  He went on to win the next serve.

The diversion seemed to motivate Djokovic, who up to that point seemed sluggish and outplayed.  He rallied slightly against his Swiss opponent, only to fall short in the second set, 6-4.

 Djokovic's momentum carried over to a 6-3 third set win and now it was Federer who started to look tired. 

Djokovic forced a decisive set five by winning 6-2, then continued to hit balls fast and long while Federer couldn't get a point on any of his serves.

In the fifth set, the expressionless Federer got the crowd on his side, looked fresher and started to spray balls beyond Djokovic's reach.

The momentum continued to volley back-and-forth between the two players.

In the end, it was the Serbian's turn to get the crowd on his side.  The cheers pushed Djokovic to an improbable comeback after he fell behind in, what seemed like, an insurmountable 5-3 hole.

The classic match was finally won in a tiebreaker by Djokovic, 7-5 in the fifth.

After the epic battle, Djokovic lauded the "noise" at Arthur Ashe Stadium and mustered up enough energy to dance with the 23,500 jubilant fans.

The nearly four-hour match's start was delayed by rain for about an hour.  Djokovic will meet either No. 2 Rafael Nadal or No. 4 Andy Murray in the finals on Monday.

Rafael Nadal Blasts U.S. Open Officials For Playing In Rain

Rafael Nadal, the defending  U.S. Open champion and the No. 2 ranked player in the world, ripped U.S. Open officials, after spending 15 minutes on a soggy Arthur Ashe Stadium court Wednesday afternoon, for putting money ahead of player's safety.

Nadal, who was last seen cramping up at a press conference Sunday,  could have been accused of having a Midol moment, but was later joined by Andy Roddick and Andy Murray in voicing their umbrage at tournament referee Brian Earley for allowing matches to be played on a rain-slicked surface.

"It's the same old story.  All you think about is money," Nadal could be heard telling Earley while the tennis player exited the court and the referee checked the surface to see if it was still playable.

Nadal's fourth-round match was suspended after he fell behind 3-0 to Gilles Muller.

Nadal insisted the match, which was started in a misty rain, should not have even started.  A heavier rain followed and the court got slippery and the ball got heavier.

What does Earley think this is...a Yankees-Orioles game?  Why not start the matches at 11 p.m. while you're at it.

"We want to feel good when we are playing the tournament," said Nadal.  "For sure we  cannot accept these things.  I work all my life hard to be playing...We have to fight to have  the power to say we don't want to go on the court when it's raining.  I think it's not fair."

Yesterday, the tournament postponed 54 matches due to the heavy rain and officials were eager to resume play.  If the Open goes an extra day, it would be the fourth year in-a-row the tournament has finished on a Monday.

The USTA issued a statement Wednesday afternoon explaining its decision to play in the inclement weather.

"All parties, including the players and tournament, want to get the U.S. Open back on schedule.  As of 12 noon today, the best information available to us indicated the chance of a two-hour window without rain.  Unfortunately, not all light rain and mist shows up on radar.  We have experienced referees, and they decide if courts are fit to play.  Conditions may not be ideal, but can still be safe.  However, if a player or players feel that conditions are unsafe, we listen to them, as we always done, and the referee uses that information as part of his/her assessment on whether to continue or halt play."

Nadal seems to think player's safety takes a back seat to television revenue.

In an interview with ESPN 2, Nadal said, "We're not feeling protected (by) the tournament.  I understand they need to put tennis on TV.  I understand the business side of it.  First and foremost, I think the players need to feel comfortable and safe."

Serena Williams tweeted her support for Nadal via Twitter.  "Preach @RafaelNadal preach."

In the 1999 Open, Mary Joe Fernandez injured her knee against Venus Williams after slipping on a wet court.  Fernandez won the first set, 6-2, but lost the next two, 6-1, 6-0.

Nadal better get used to it.  The forecast calls for rain through Saturday.