Novak Djokovic rallies past Radek Stepanek to reach final of Swiss Indoors

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Djokovic beats Stepanek in Swiss Indoors semifinal

BASEL, Switzerland — Novak Djokovic reached the Swiss Indoors final, saving three match points Saturday in rallying past Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2.

Djokovic, ranked No. 3, won for the 70th time this year, tops on the ATP Tour. This will be his ninth final, also a tour best. He is 3-5 in title matches in 2009.

The Serb will face a Swiss opponent in Sunday’s final of the $2.58 million tournament. Three-time defending champion Roger Federer played boyhood friend Marco Chiudinelli in the other semifinal.

“If I play Marco it will obviously be better for me,” Djokovic said. “If I play Roger it’s going to be a tough one.”

Djokovic had beaten Stepanek easily in the round of 16 at the U.S. Open in September. This match was far was more testing. He trailed his 14th-ranked Czech opponent 5-4 in the second set and was 0-40 down before reeling off five straight points to win the game.

“I wouldn’t say necessarily it was my good shots that prevented the loss. It was luck only,” Djokovic said. “I just tried to get some first serves in and at least get that advantage. On this (hard-court) surface, it’s crucial.”

Djokovic’s first serves faltered in the second set, and a double-fault gave Stepanek three match points. Djokovic responded with heavy serves and ground strokes, and needed just one set point on his next service game. He converted it with a forehand winner.

In the decider, Djokovic got service breaks in the first and seventh games before closing out the match.