The French workhorse made the five-time champion earn it over the course of four hours and 32 minutes.
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Djokovic came out on top when the pair played in last year’s finals at Wimbledon and the US Open, and the suspicion remains that the Serbian, six years Federer’s junior, holds the physical advantage over five sets.
Federer reached his 12th Australian Open semifinal, and 39th in a Grand Slam event, with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 6 Tomas Berdych.
It marked the 10th consecutive time Djokovic has beaten the Frenchman, but the 10-time grand slam champion never reached the high levels he has set.
A round after Novak Djokovic sprayed 100 unforced errors, it was Kei Nishikori’s turn to litter the court with mistakes.
The 34-year-old American has won all eight matches against Pole Radwanska but said she was taking nothing for granted as she continues her bid for a 22nd grand slam title.
When Laver won the title in 1969, the Australian Open didn’t award replicas of the Norman Brookes trophy to the victor, as it does today. But Federer was in no mood to hang around in the evening’s final match, watched by Australian great Rod Laver in the arena that bears his name.
Stephen Healy, the president of Tennis Australia, said, “We’re going to correct that omission today”. Every player manages to defend or pass it differently.
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova have confirmed their quarterfinal date at the Australian Open, each advancing in straight sets on Sunday to ensure a rematch in Melbourne Park between last year’s finalists. “To win the first two sets within 50 minutes is the best thing that can happen out there, especially with a late start and against a quality player”. They exchanged breaks in 4th and 5th games, with Novak making another one in game 8, to serve for the set.
Sharapova won consecutive matches against Williams in 2004 at Wimbledon and the season-ending championships, but has lost all 17 meetings since.
“It’s unbelieveable”, said the 21-year-old Friedsam afterwards, before explaining that after having been crushed in the first set, she realized that she had nothing to lose and simply went for it. It was not immediately apparent what was affecting her.
Simon served better, facing only 1 break point, and he made decisive break in game 9, to force deciding set after nearly 4 hours of play.
Asked if her unbeaten run against Sharapova gave her extra confidence, the 21-time major victor said it didn’t matter who she was playing.
Parochial concerns mean Australia’s Daria Garvrilova takes the spotlight in the evening primetime slot in Melbourne Park’s biggest arena for her contest against 10th seed Carla Suarez Navarro.
“In the first set I was sore but after treatment I felt better”, he said.
“I haven’t practised yesterday, I didn’t hit a tennis ball”, Djokovic said.
It wasn’t the only marathon five-setter on Sunday as Tomas Berdych outlasted Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to go into a quarter-final against Roger Federer or David Goffin.
But after raising a third match point with an ace, Djokovic sealed the match with an imperious backhand down the line and after shaking hands with his opponent, was glad to slump into his chair.
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Djokovic capitulated in a second-set tiebreaker against Gilles Simon, the first time he’s dropped a set since a semi-final win over Stan Wawrinka at the Paris Masters last November.
