Reigning champion Novak Djokovic and number three seed Roger Federer will square off in a modern tennis classic when they take to centre court in the first men’s semi-final at the Australian Open yesterday.
At stake is a shot at history. Both are bidding to equal Australian Roy Emerson’s record of six titles, set in the pre-Open era, and their head-to-head count is tied at 22 wins apiece.
Federer, who has not won a grand slam title since 2012 and lost five of his eight matches against Djokovic last year, is in arguably the better form, dropping just one set in five matches en route to his mouth-watering clash with the Serb.
Undisputed world number one Djokovic has dropped a set more than the Swiss but has never lost in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Djokovic came back strongly after making 100 unforced errors against Frenchman Gilles Simon in the fourth round to down number seven seed Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the quarter-finals.
The 44 matches between Djokovic and Federer is the second highest tally in the Open era, beaten only by the 47 between Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and the Serb credits his two biggest rivals for his dominance of recent years.
“These two guys made me the player I am today. I think these rivalries have allowed me to grow ...and understand what it takes to be on the level that they are on,” he said.
“Roger always makes you play your best. My best is what is going to be necessary to win against him.”
Women’s champion Serena Williams, bidding for her 22nd grand slam title, will have to overcome number four seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the first singles semi-final at the Rod Laver Arena.
The number one seed has buried fears about her form and fitness beneath a run of dominating performances. She has not lost a set so far and barely broke a sweat while vanquishing number five seed Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals.
Five of the best between Djoko, FedEx
Five of the best between Djokovic, Federer
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer resume their long rivalry in their 45th meeting in the Australian Open semi-final today.
2007 US Open final
•Djokovic was making his first appearance in a Grand Slam final and had beaten Federer in the Montreal Masters just weeks before. The Swiss legend was too strong for the 20-year-old Serb, winning in straight sets 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, but Djokovic led 6-5 in both the first two sets and held five set points in the opening set. Federer became the first man to win four successive US Opens since Bill Tilden 80 years earlier, but it was a warning for the Swiss.
2010 US Open semi-final
•Federer held two match points in the fifth set but couldn’t convert them. The Serb held, broke Federer’s serve, and then served it out to win 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. Djokovic denied Federer what would have been a seventh successive final appearance at Flushing Meadows.
2011 Australian Open semi-final
•The match lasted three hours even though it comprised only three sets. Djokovic took the first set in a tight tiebreaker. Federer raised his level to establish a 5-2 lead in the second set but was unable to serve out the set and Djokovic reeled off five straight games for a two-set lead. Federer rallied from an early break in the third set, but Djokovic won the final two games from 4-4 to claim a 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-4 victory.
2011 French Open semi-final
•Super-confident Djokovic went into the tournament on the back of a 43-match winning run. Federer rolled back the years and won an exceptional 70-minute opening set in a tiebreak and then claimed the second set before the Serb took the third set and was serving for the fourth. The Swiss great fought back to take the match in a tiebreak closing out in four sets 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) with his 18th ace at 9:37 pm local time.
2014 Wimbledon final
•The first Wimbledon final played between the two developed into an epic three-hour, 56-minute dogfight. They split two tie-breaks in the opening three sets before the Serb opened a 5-2 lead in the fourth set. Federer saved championship point as Djokovic dropped five straight games and the Swiss saved three break points at 3-4 but finally cracked in his next service game, as Djokovic won the title for a second time 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-4 to regain the world number one spot. He also prevented Federer from moving past Pete Sampras with a record eighth Wimbledon title.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer
