Roger Federer denied all 12 break points he faced falling to Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (6), 5-7, 7-6 (3) in the Paris semifinals.
It was Djokovic's fourth consecutive win over Federer, including a 6-4, 6-4, sweep in the Cincinnati final that snapped the Swiss' undefeated record in the Queen City.
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Djokovic owns a 25-22 lead in the head-to-head series vs. Federer. The pair could meet again at the season-ending ATP Finals.
The second-ranked Nadal has won 23 of 38 meetings with Federer, who said both rivals represent completely different challenges.
Federer suggests Djokovic's ability to straddle the baseline and take the ball early, combined with his backhand down the line, requires a different tactical approach than Nadal.
"They're totally different, you know," Federer said after falling to Djokovic in Paris. "And I can answer you not because I just lost, but we know how they are so different one from another. Sometimes it depends on whether you're on a good roll or not. Like when I played against Murray, it was the same thing. If you are having a good momentum it's not the same as if you were on a bad roll.
What I would say on Novak, I always like the rivalry. It's also tactical but it's a different tactical approach than with Rafa. The whole geometry of the court is different because he's left-handed. And that is the case with all left-handed players not only Rafa."
Photo credit: Christopher Levy