The world No 1 awaits the victor after a scintillating performance in his semi-final, his 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory putting him into a sixth Australian Open final, one win away from a sixth title.
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It was the 45th meeting between two titans of the sport, with Djokovic now edging Federer 23-22 in their head-to-head duels.
Federer, who has not won a grand slam title since 2012 and lost five of his eight matches against Djokovic past year, is in arguably the better form, dropping just one set in five matches en route to his mouth-watering clash with the Serb. “But I think against Roger, these first two sets have been probably the best two sets I’ve played against him overall I think throughout my career”, Djokovic said. “I knew he was going to be aggressive and mix up the pace and try to come to the net”.
In the fourth, they played the point of the match.
“Novak right now is a reference for everybody”, Federer said, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
Now playing under a closed roof, Djokovic took some time to regain his level in the fourth but grabbed the crucial break for a 5-3 lead and served out comfortably to reach his fifth straight grand slam final. I’ve been working very hard in the last few years.
Saturday’s women’s final will be between six-time Aussie victor Serena Williams and seventh-seeded German Angelique Kerber. “Unbelievable serve. Everything, she was going for it. Yeah, I couldn’t do much”.
Djokovic broke serve in the second and sixth game of the first set and the third and fifth game of the second set. Someone like Novak is, I think, well on his way to trying to accomplish that. Djokovic has won the title at Melbourne Park in four of the past five years, with that reign only interrupted by Stan Wawrinka in 2014.
As for Djokovic, he was planning to enjoy two days off to prepare for his 19th Grand Slam final. But the world No3 has been stopped in his tracks – losing to Djokovic in their last four major showdowns – and many wonder whether Federer, at 34, can add to his tally. “Each time I come back… and step on Rod Laver Arena I have this lovely memory”.
Djokovic, who will match Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg with 11 Grand Slam titles if he wins Sunday’s final, leaving only four players ahead of him on the all-time list, said he meant to stay on top for as long as he can.
In an interview with Rolling Stone prior to the start of the Australian Open, Becker revealed that Djokovic had been working on winning points, sets, and matches must faster in order to stay fresh in the late rounds of big tournaments. “Do I smell? What’s going on, why do you keep moving away from me?”
“I’ve seen Novak play this well before, ” he said. Djokovic kept his nose in front serving first at the resumption and the pressure ultimately told for Federer in the eighth game. “Being in the finals and watching the other semi-final, of course it’s quite a joyful feeling”.
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“I played against a better player today who earned her right to a grand slam final”, she said.
