Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick put in a show-stopping performance at the US Open last night but only the fired up Serbian was left standing to take an encore - albeit from a hostile Flushing Meadows crowd.
The world number three outgunned American Roddick 6-2 6-3 3-6 7-6 in a high-quality shootout to set up a tantalizing semi-final with four-times champion Roger Federer but then felt the wrath of the crowd when he let his emotions spill over in a courtside interview.
Annoyed by Roddick's suggestions that he might have been exaggerating hip, ankle, stomach and breathing problems during his five-set win in the previous round, Djokovic told the fans: "Andy was saying that I have 16 injuries in the last match so obviously I don't, right?
"That's not nice anyhow to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I am faking it.
"With the sellout crowd packed around the Arthur Ashe Stadium booing loudly, the Serb continued his outburst: "Like it or not, it's like that. They (the crowd) are already against me because they think I am faking everything, so sorry."
"I am really happy playing against Roddick on his court and in his city in his favorite tournament so to win against him is a huge effort."
Roddick felt Djokovic had over-reacted to something that had been a joke.
"It was completely meant in jest," said the 2003 champion. "I'm sorry he took it that way. I don't think I was over the line. It wasn't my intention and I'm sorry he felt that way. Maybe I did him a favour tonight."
Djokovic later apologised for his outburst, saying he had overreacted.
"He made a joke and it was a misunderstanding," the third-seeded Serbian told reporters after he had cooled off following an angry courtside outburst that brought boos from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.
"Maybe I exaggerated and reacted bad in that moment. I apologise if I reacted like that. This was just impulsive."
After turning into public enemy number one, Djokovic will probably need a tight security escort when he turns up on Saturday for his last-four date with New York's adopted son Federer.
The Swiss spared himself a repeat of his "dogfight" five-set win over Russian Igor Andreev in the last 16 but his 7-6 6-4 7-6 win over 130th-ranked Luxembourg qualifier Gilles Muller was not exactly the kind of performance one would have expected from a man who extended his unbeaten run at Flushing Meadows to 32 matches.
Champion's performance or not, Federer hung in for two hours and 26 minutes to advance to a record 18th successive grand slam semi-final.
"I'm happy to keep the semi-final streak alive. That's a huge streak for such a long time," said the second seed, who was deposed as world number one two weeks ago by French Open and Wimbledon winner Rafael Nadal.
"I hope this time around I can take it a step further than I did in Paris or Wimbledon," added the Swiss, who is aiming to become the first man since 1924 to win five in a row here.
Nadal will take on Briton Andy Murray in the other semi-final.