Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic to battle for spot in Australian final
MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will meet for a 45th time, this time with a spot in the Australian Open final on the line.
Two of the game’s greatest players of all time will battle Thursday (Wednesday night ET), with their head-to-head record deadlocked 22-22.
It’s a Goliath vs. Goliath battle, with the winner moving a step closer to another Grand Slam tournament title.
For Federer, it’s another shot at claiming an 18th major title that has been difficult to get his hands on. He hasn’t captured a Grand Slam singles title since Wimbledon in 2012, a time span in which Djokovic has won five, including four of the last six.
Federer, 34 and ranked No. 3 in the world, is driven by the dream of earning another Grand Slam trophy that once felt as easy to come by as a forehand into the open court.
“It’s part of the reason why I guess I’m still playing,” he said Tuesday. “I feel like I’m competitive at the top. I can beat all the guys on tour. I’m playing good tennis, fun tennis for me anyway. I enjoy being able to come to the net more like back in the day. So I’m very pleased. It would mean a lot to me, no doubt about it.”
But it also would mean a lot to Djokovic, who has widened the gap between himself as world No.1 and the rest of the field — No. 2 Andy Murray, Federer, Rafael Nadal and others who have challenged him in the past.
A winner in 36 of his last 37 matches, Djokovic has become nearly unbeatable at this stage in his storied career.
Unbeatable particularly over five sets, including vs. Federer. Last season they met eight times, with the Swiss winning three times. But the Serb won the two most important: the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals, both played in the best-of-five format.
“The longer the match goes, maybe I have slightly bigger chance,” Djokovic said Tuesday.
He has won four out of the last five Australian Opens, a tournament that lends to his can’t-miss style of defensive-to-offensive tennis. He’s the heavy favorite again, having defeated world No.7 Kei Nishikori in straight sets two days after a five-set challenge in the fourth round.
Federer has looked in fine form during this tournament as well, dropping one set and drubbing world No. 6 Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals, also in straight sets. Federer has made a concerted effort to get to the net, saying he has found joy again in the style that won him major after major between 2004 and 2008.
“What’s amazing about Roger at 34 ... is that he still feels like he wants to get better,” ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert said. “He’s not afraid to make switches and do things and tinker with his team to try to get better, the guys he’s chasing.”
Federer will have new coach Ivan Ljubicic in his box, and Djokovic continues to have Boris Becker in his corner.
But in this fight, it’s gloves off and tennis rackets in hand — one man looking to continue his dominance while another seeks to add to his legacy and reassert himself at the top.
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