Novak Djokovic insists he is still not on the same level as Roger Federer as the pair prepare to clash in the US Open semi-finals on Saturday.
Third seed Djokovic could take over from 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer as the number two player in the world should he beat the Swiss great, who only lost his place on top of the ATP rankings to Rafael Nadal last month.
But the Serbian, whose best performance at Flushing Meadows was runner-up in 2007, still feels he has some way to go before he can be considered Federer's equal.
"[Federer is] very experienced, and he knows what he needs to play, how he needs to behave in the big matches in front of the big crowd and in big moments, what shots he needs to play," Djokovic said.
"I'm getting that experience slowly, but I'm still not at his level."
Djokovic admitted the fact Federer - who is chasing his fifth straight US Open title - is no longer world number one has taken some getting used to.
"It's a bit strange to see number two next to [Federer's] name, you know," said Djokovic after beating American Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
"He was so dominant in last couple of years, and I lost to him here the finals last year."
Federer, who will be appearing in his 18th straight Grand Slam semi-final, had owned the top spot in the rankings for a record 237 straight weeks before losing the honour to Nadal on August 18.
This is the first time since 2002 that the 27-year-old has come into the US Open without having captured at least one Grand Slam title during the calendar year.
He lost to Djokovic - the eventual champion - in the semis of the Australian Open and was beaten by Nadal in both the French Open and Wimbledon final.
Trying to salvage what has been a disappointing year by his lofty standards, Federer will carry a 32-match winning streak at this event into the critical clash with Djokovic.
"I played well this tournament, so I'm really happy to keep [my Grand Slam semi-final streak] alive and give myself an opportunity again to be in the final four," Federer said.
"I hope this time around I can take it a step further than I did in Paris or Wimbledon."
Djokovic has won just two of his eight career meetings with Federer, but put up a real fight in last year's final, eventually going down 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/2) 6-4.
He also defeated Federer in straight sets at the Australian Open, though it was later revealed that Federer played the event while fighting mononucleosis.
Meanwhile, top seed Nadal looks to keep his bid for a ninth title of the year alive when he takes on Andy Murray in the second semi-final.
The 22-year-old Spaniard is hoping to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows in the same year.
In line to reach his first final at a hardcourt major, Nadal will take on sixth-seeded Briton Murray.
Appearing in his first Grand Slam semi-final and guaranteed to become the new world number four, Murray has been unable to defeat Nadal in their five previous encounters, including three matches this season.
The Scot goes into the last-four clash on the back of a quarter-final victory over number 17 Juan Martin del Potro, who had won 23 straight matches prior to the setback.
Murray will be confronted by another winning streak on Saturday as Nadal, who claimed the gold medal in Beijing last month, has won 11 games in a row and 54 of his last 56.
The lefthander, who beat Murray in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, also has been triumphant in 19 consecutive Grand Slam matches.
"The one thing that I need to improve, is to return better," said Murray, who took Nadal to five sets at the 2007 Australian Open. "The first couple of times I played him I returned very well.
"The match at Wimbledon, if I take that one away, the times I played him on hardcourts, I've had quite a few close sets, really tough matches."
Though he has won 11 straight sets against Murray, the Spaniard is taking nothing for granted.
"I know the only way for a win is play my best tennis," said Nadal. "I did very well in Wimbledon and I played one of my best matches there.
"I beat [Murray] in the semi-finals of Toronto, too, but it was a very close match and I played well."
First prize here is $US1.5 million, but Nadal stands to earn $2.5 million with a victory as he won the US Open Series leading up to the event.
With remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna expected to bring heavy rain and wind gusts to Flushing Meadows on Saturday, it is likely that the semi-final round will be rescheduled for Sunday, giving players some extra rest.
"I think [the potential delay] is going to go in my favour," said Djokovic, who has not won in straight sets since the second round.
"Physically I've been struggling in this tournament, so any extra day of relaxation and just recovery would be good for me, of course, but I would like to play soon, not wait here."
Third seed Djokovic could take over from 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer as the number two player in the world should he beat the Swiss great, who only lost his place on top of the ATP rankings to Rafael Nadal last month.
But the Serbian, whose best performance at Flushing Meadows was runner-up in 2007, still feels he has some way to go before he can be considered Federer's equal.
"[Federer is] very experienced, and he knows what he needs to play, how he needs to behave in the big matches in front of the big crowd and in big moments, what shots he needs to play," Djokovic said.
"I'm getting that experience slowly, but I'm still not at his level."
Djokovic admitted the fact Federer - who is chasing his fifth straight US Open title - is no longer world number one has taken some getting used to.
"It's a bit strange to see number two next to [Federer's] name, you know," said Djokovic after beating American Andy Roddick in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
"He was so dominant in last couple of years, and I lost to him here the finals last year."
Federer, who will be appearing in his 18th straight Grand Slam semi-final, had owned the top spot in the rankings for a record 237 straight weeks before losing the honour to Nadal on August 18.
This is the first time since 2002 that the 27-year-old has come into the US Open without having captured at least one Grand Slam title during the calendar year.
He lost to Djokovic - the eventual champion - in the semis of the Australian Open and was beaten by Nadal in both the French Open and Wimbledon final.
Trying to salvage what has been a disappointing year by his lofty standards, Federer will carry a 32-match winning streak at this event into the critical clash with Djokovic.
"I played well this tournament, so I'm really happy to keep [my Grand Slam semi-final streak] alive and give myself an opportunity again to be in the final four," Federer said.
"I hope this time around I can take it a step further than I did in Paris or Wimbledon."
Djokovic has won just two of his eight career meetings with Federer, but put up a real fight in last year's final, eventually going down 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/2) 6-4.
He also defeated Federer in straight sets at the Australian Open, though it was later revealed that Federer played the event while fighting mononucleosis.
Meanwhile, top seed Nadal looks to keep his bid for a ninth title of the year alive when he takes on Andy Murray in the second semi-final.
The 22-year-old Spaniard is hoping to become the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows in the same year.
In line to reach his first final at a hardcourt major, Nadal will take on sixth-seeded Briton Murray.
Appearing in his first Grand Slam semi-final and guaranteed to become the new world number four, Murray has been unable to defeat Nadal in their five previous encounters, including three matches this season.
The Scot goes into the last-four clash on the back of a quarter-final victory over number 17 Juan Martin del Potro, who had won 23 straight matches prior to the setback.
Murray will be confronted by another winning streak on Saturday as Nadal, who claimed the gold medal in Beijing last month, has won 11 games in a row and 54 of his last 56.
The lefthander, who beat Murray in the Wimbledon quarter-finals, also has been triumphant in 19 consecutive Grand Slam matches.
"The one thing that I need to improve, is to return better," said Murray, who took Nadal to five sets at the 2007 Australian Open. "The first couple of times I played him I returned very well.
"The match at Wimbledon, if I take that one away, the times I played him on hardcourts, I've had quite a few close sets, really tough matches."
Though he has won 11 straight sets against Murray, the Spaniard is taking nothing for granted.
"I know the only way for a win is play my best tennis," said Nadal. "I did very well in Wimbledon and I played one of my best matches there.
"I beat [Murray] in the semi-finals of Toronto, too, but it was a very close match and I played well."
First prize here is $US1.5 million, but Nadal stands to earn $2.5 million with a victory as he won the US Open Series leading up to the event.
With remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna expected to bring heavy rain and wind gusts to Flushing Meadows on Saturday, it is likely that the semi-final round will be rescheduled for Sunday, giving players some extra rest.
"I think [the potential delay] is going to go in my favour," said Djokovic, who has not won in straight sets since the second round.
"Physically I've been struggling in this tournament, so any extra day of relaxation and just recovery would be good for me, of course, but I would like to play soon, not wait here."
