New York, Sep 9: The master and the young pretender will meet today when three-times defending champion Roger Federer takes on Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the final of the US Open.

Victory for top seed Federer will take his tally of grand-slam titles to 12 and will also make the Swiss the first man in the Open Era to win the US Open over four consecutive years.

A win for Djokovic would make the 20-year-old the first Serbian to win a grand-slam title.

Federer has enjoyed the more comfortable path to Sunday's clash, dropping just two sets on the way to his record 10th straight grand-slam final.

''I'm feeling well. That's the main thing right now, right before the finals,'' Federer told reporters.

''I'm feeling great. I know how to play (Djokovic). I hope I can just do what I do best and hopefully win.'' Djokovic, a semi-finalist at both the French Open and Wimbledon this year, beat Federer to win the title in Montreal last month, an event where he notched successive wins over Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and world number one Federer.

Though Sunday will be his first grand-slam final, Djokovic believes he has a chance to win.

''The win over him in Montreal will help me, that's for sure,'' he said.

''I think I'm ready and I need to be ready. I need to think like this.

''I need to believe in myself, because otherwise I wouldn't get the positive outcome.

''I don't want to go out and try to do my best or try to perform well. I'll go out to try to win.''

Reuters
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