I don't know how to describe the Super Saturday obsession without resorting to language unacceptable on a family-friendly website. But let's just look at the internal logic for a moment. The highlight match of the two U.S. Open semifinals is second; therefore we ought to be deliriously happy when it turns into a corker. But when that does occur, it often ruins the final.

The networks can't win. The fans can't win. And now it looks like Novak Djokovic can't win -- not after he was dragged through a grueling 3-hour, 44 minute match with Roger Federer -- after he left with just about 21 hours before he has to face his first Rafael Nadal serve -- or forehand.

There's been a lot of talk these days about the ATP board cutting back the length of the season, but in my opinion they ought to add a day between the semifinals and final of the U.S. Open.

Federer said after losing to Djokovic that he has a good shot at winning the tournament, and it begged the question: Just how much of shot does he have, realistically, given what Saturday's match must have taken out of him?

We know what Djokovic will likely be lacking Sunday: fresh legs, proper rest and the mental and emotional clarity that ideal conditions are supposed to encourage. Some players have bounced back to win Sunday after surviving a feature-match war the previous day. John McEnroe in 1980 comes to mind. So there's that. But far more have lost under those conditions.

Beyond that, Rafa Nadal probably is the last guy a fella in Djokovic's shoes wants to see across the net. Djokovic refused to divulge his recovery strategy, short of joking he would do everything "legal" in his power. This "what am I gonna do" attitude may be his best psychological weapon. Beyond that, this is what he can do to pull off the upset:

1. Go for broke, quick. Djokovic can't get into a war of attrition against Nadal. All players like to get out to a fast start, but they also have a matching impulse to feel their way into the contest, and the latter usually overrides their urgency.

Djokovic will have adrenaline available early on, because of the magnitude of the occasion. He needs to use it to maximum effect. If he can get the first set, Rafa will begin to feel the pressure (although he handles that pretty well) and Djokovic will get an emotional lift that could provide him with extra energy.

2. Take care of his serve. You can't do anything about how the other guy serves, but if you serve well you can significantly cut down the length of the match on a court as slick as this one by playing far fewer, shorter points. Unfortunately, Djokovic came into the semis with more double faults than aces, even though he's served pretty conservatively.

3. Pray for rain. Don't laugh, rain is in the forecast. If it forces a postponement until Monday, it will give Djokovic an enormous boost -- and Nadal that much more to think about as he angles to complete that critical and elusive career Grand Slam.