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The temptation is to write off Roger Federer after Saturday's most recent come-from-ahead capitulation, a 6-7 (7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 loss to Novak Djokovic that ensures the 30-year-old Swiss will finish without a Grand Slam title for the first year since 2002.

But to downplay Federer's brilliance is to slight Djokovic's otherworldly perseverance, athleticism and siege mentality, qualities that helped the top-ranked Serb escape certain elimination, improve to 63-2 overall this year and rally from a two-set deficit for the second time in his career.

The reality is matches like Saturday's unforgettable U.S. Open semifinal, which unfolded at dizzying heights of quality and endurance, are played along the edge of a straight razor. There is a winner and there is a loser but the space between is often microscopic -- a framed forehand here, a sprayed backhand...

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Related Topics: US Open 2011 tennis, tennis