Another installment of the Novak Djokovic-Roger Federer rivalry will take place in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Thursday. Djokovic is the defending champion of this event, while Federer is ultimately looking for his first winner’s trophy Down Under since 2010.
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be squaring off for the 45th time in their careers when they collide in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Thursday. The head-to-head series is all tied up at 22-22 after a pair of 2015 World Tour Finals showdowns failed to settle the score. Federer took a brief 22-21 lead by upsetting Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 during round-robin action before the Serb came out on top when the stakes were raised in the final with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph.
The two double-digit Grand Slam winners have faced each other three times at the Australian Open. Federer cruised 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in the 2007 fourth round before Djokovic’s breakout tournament–resulting in his first major title in 2008–saw him upset the Swiss 7-5, 6-3, 7-6(5) during semifinal action. The world No. 1 has won thee slam matches in a row at his rival’s expense since losing to Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon semifinals. Djokovic prevailed in the 2014 Wimbledon final (five sets), the 2015 Wimbledon final (four sets), and the 2015 U.S. Open final (four sets).
“Any round feels like finals because of the fact that we are–you know, big rivals,” Djokovic commented. “We (have) played so many times against each other. There’s a lot of tension. There’s a lot at stake. I’m expecting a great fight.”
This blockbuster battle was almost denied in improbable fashion by massive underdog Gilles Simon. The Frenchman benefited from a shocking 100 unforced errors off the Djokovic racket to push their fourth-round affair two five sets, but the favorite finally survived 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. That was preceded by straight-set defeats of Hyeon Chung, Quentin Halys, and Andreas Seppi, and followed by a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 rout of Kei Nishikori on Tuesday.
Federer has endured no scares of any kind. The 34-year-old Swiss dropped only one set through his first five matches and he bounced back nicely from a minor hiccup against Grigor Dimitrov to win that tussle 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Federer also boasts straight-set victories over Nikoloz Basilashvili, Alexandr Dolgopolov, David Goffin, and Tomas Berdych.
“I feel like I’m competitive at the top,” the third seed assured. “I can beat all the guys on tour. It’s nice now that in the last three slams that I’ve been as consistent as I have been. I’m playing good tennis; fun tennis for me, anyway. I really enjoy being able to come to the net more like back in the day. So I’m very pleased.”
But he can’t be pleased seeing Djokovic on the other side of the net, as opposed to Simon or Nishikori. Despite the relative competitiveness of the recent matches, Djokovic has simply had Federer’s number of late. Nobody turns defense into offense better than the world No. 1, an aspect of his game that can expertly counter Federer’s aggressiveness and net-rushing. Expect another high-quality contest, with an edge going to Djokovic.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
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I’ve been tempted to switch my pick to Nole but decided against it.
However, if Fed loses to Nole again tomorrow, I’m not picking him against Nole anymore until he proves he can meet my expectations.
#Probation
i do love the way you set fed up for a fall hawks!
Yes, someone seems to be hedging their bets!
It’s called having your cake and eating it………
Yes!
I don’t know, I said Nole in 4 but Fed said he can beat all the top guys and has threatened to whip out the SABR again. So….conflicted.
Sabr does unsettle Novak at times and Roger hasn’t used it in a while so Nole may be thrown off at times.
gosh pat i have great respect for your posts and enjoy reading them but
‘fed…..has threatened to whip out the sabr again’ is not the most felicitous of phrasing!
he might have to resort to such tactics to beat the Djoker!!!
Now THAT’S a Freudian slip.
Lmao
My bad
Fed in 4
Too late for Fed in 4.
come on in here, folks.
Nole in 4. He will drop this set.
No
You’re right. Doing the anti jinx because I want this beat down to become better. And what a pass! Followed by a terrible pass.
Fed is not going to win the match, that’s for sure.
genius
Fed showing some resistance
Djokovic will win:
61 62 64
6-3
Such a level by nole can not only win him this match but also a lot of matches in the future. Just ask rafa
oil painting of a backhand *Koening style* !! 15-30 !!
Impressive net coverage. Taking the initiative! 15-40!
Federer has break point, eureka
Fed engaging in rallies with Novak is just plain stupid! That’s exactly what Nole wants. Rush to the net Fed!!!
Fed’s forays to the net have failed so far.
Fed stands no chance playing from the baseline. It’s just not his way of playing! He should shorten the points, go to the net but in order to do so he has to hit deeper and harder but Nole doesn’t let it happen that easily…Novak serving well though…his serve is such a forte..
Fed playing better now, slowing down the pace and hitting some slices.
Novak’s level dropping. If anyone could withstand it long enough, Novak’s level may come down.
Good one there by Fed! Let Novak has a taste of his own medicine.
Break!!! Good old Federer!
Come on hang in there, Novak’s level may drop.
Bravo Fed! Make the match of it!
Go Fed!!
Fed on fire
Too little too late. But at least he has salvaged his pride – just.
Gotta win set
Goooood sneak in ! drew the errors from novak on ROS