Which is why, at the start, it was surprising to see Federer struggle as much as he did. When he double-faulted, then sprayed two forehands long, Djokovic broke to go up 6-5, with a chance to serve for the set.

And then Djokovic raced to a 40-love edge.

Three set points.

Three chances to take a one-set lead against Federer in the U.S. Open final.

And just like that, they vanished: Federer hit a cross-court forehand winner that caught a line, and Djokovic missed two backhands.

Then came two more set points that Federer erased. Then, in the tiebreaker, Djokovic made three backhand errors and two double-faults, including on the last point.

“He knows what it feels like to be in that kind of situation. He knows how to cope with the pressure,” Djokovic said. “For me, this is something new.”

It showed again later.

When Federer served while trailing 6-5 in the second set, Djokovic let two more set points go by the wayside. Again they went to a tiebreaker, and again Federer was better. When he ended it with a backhand passing winner down the line — placing the ball through the one, tiny opening there was — Federer skipped toward the sideline, screamed and punched the air.

Djokovic had one last opportunity to climb back into the match, getting to love-40 when Federer served at 2-2 in the third set. But Federer took five points in a row, making Djokovic 2-for-9 on break chances.

Federer takes home a Grand Slam-record $2.4 million in prize money: $1.4 million for winning the tournament, plus a $1 million bonus because he finished atop the U.S. Open Series standings based on performances at hard-court tuneup events.

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From 1970 to 2005, no man — not a single one! — reached all four Grand Slam finals in a calendar year. Now Federer has turned that trick two years in a row. Actually, his streak stretches back to 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals, and he’s won eight. And if it weren’t for a certain indefatigable Mallorcan who goes by the name Rafael Nadal — and beat him in the last two French Open finals — Federer might have won all 10.

About an hour after Sunday’s match, Djokovic walked outside the stadium to join about a dozen friends and relatives. He posed for photos, then Dad helped him pop a bottle of champagne. Clearly, Djokovic was happy to be here.

Federer wanted the victory.

He was asked whether Djokovic is ready to overtake the second-ranked Nadal.

“No. 2, No. 3 — it doesn’t matter much,” Federer said. “It’s No. 1 that matters.”

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