Federer seemed like he had an answer to his most pressing problem: Novak Djokovic. Down a set, unable to play consistent enough to rattle Djokovic, Federer needed a new idea.  Commentators made an analogy between this match and last night’s match between Wozniacki and Sharapova between a steady player and a hard hitter.  Wozniacki made Sharapova work really hard.  Sharapova had to hit the hard several times just to win a point.

To no avail.

Wozniacki with ease.

Federer found himself playing Djokovic once again, and used power, once again, and found himself behind, once again.

Federer decided to use some off-pace shots, and it rattled Djokovic enough that he broke twice to take the second set after losing the first set, but Djokovic broke to open the third.

Federer was able to play well enough to get that break back, but up 40-15, he gave away the rest of the game, the last on a double fault, and then held, and broke again.  Federer seemed a bit defeated after not consolidating the break.  Djokovic found it tough to close out at 5-2, and faced break point, but Federer was unable to secure the break and lost 6-2.  This marks Federer’s third consecutive loss to Djokovic.   Apparently, only 3 men have ever beaten Roger 3 consecutive times.  Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and David Nalbandian.  Now, you can add a fourth.

With this, we get to have our first Djokovic-Nadal match of the year.  The last time they played was in the round-robin of the ATP World Tour Finals won by Nadal in straight sets back in 2010.

Djokovic, who hasn’t lost this year, now sees if his game is enough to take on Nadal.  He wants to be number 1 in the world, and the way to do this is to beat number 1.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer has to think what he needs to do to beat Djokovic.  He doesn’t have answers for Nadal most of the times.

Federer still has a chance for a title, however.  He and Wawrinka will play in the doubles finals later on today against first time duo, Malisse and Dolgopolov who beat two sets of brothers to reach the finals (the Bryan brothers and the Murray brothers).  Not bad for a team that’s never played together before.  These are about the only players that still tie their hair back (ever since Federer stopped doing it when he cut his hair shorter).

Oh yes, Djokovic has been number 2 before, so this is not a new milestone for Djokovic, but there’s the thought he might keep it much longer.

Neither Federer nor Djokovic did that well at Miami (Djokovic lost early to Olivier Rochus and Federer lost to Tomas Berdych) so Federer may not have the best chance to reclaim 2.

Tomorrow, Djokovic plays Nadal.  He’ll probably be favored to win, but he played a long match and Nadal didn’t.  Still, Nadal played some nervous ball too.  Edge to Djokovic.