Djokovic downs Federer to advance to Australian Open final

But on Thursday at the year’s first major, it was Federer taking the punishment for much of the affair.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – A blockbuster Australian Open semifinal between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 3 Roger Federer will be the latest installment in the tennis rivalry that has come to define recent seasons. Remarkably Sunday’s showpiece will be the Serb’s 17th straight final.

When Djokovic led 6-1, 5-1 it seemed as though Federer might be heading for one of his heaviest Grand Slam defeats.

Like Serena Williams before him, Novak Djokovic moved into another Australian Open championship decider with a relatively untroubled semifinal win. He is a five-time Australian Open champion having had won in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015. “It’s part of the reason why I’m still playing”.

“Now he is meeting Federer who is playing fabulous tennis. But I executed perfectly, and after those first two sets it was a battle in the end”, Djokovic told Jim Courier in a post-match chat on court.

“This is going to be a big challenge for both of us”.

Federer said he wasn’t surprised by Djokovic’s early blitz.

“I feel like I’m competitive at the top”, he commented. “It’s not a problem”. Milos has improved a lot in the off-season and is feeling confident. “I thought I’m going to end up the point with a smash, but it didn’t happen”. “I can beat all the guys on tour”. I get that, because you think I’m old and all that. But it’s no problem for me. The man who has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other man in history looked like a newcomer in those first 54 minutes, incaple of answering Djokovic’s commanding serve or deep winners. The world No1 served out for victory, winning the last game to love when Federer netted a backhand.

Djokovic said he expected the second semi-final to be a tight contest, given the form both Murray and Raonic had shown so far at the Open.

Prediction: Djokovic in 5 sets. Djokovic, now into his sixth Australian final – he’s won all five previous – held his first service game at love and broke Federer in the second.

“He returns very well, like Andre Agassi”, Federer said, referring to the former No. 1 who stifled foes with his flat ground strokes.

Capitalizing on weak moments from the Swiss, Raonic brought out the big serve he is now quickly becoming known for, stretching Wawrinka to five sets in a thriller of a match that saw an ailing Wawrinka admit that his younger Canadian opponent had outplayed him on the day. Djokovic denied Federer what would have been a seventh successive final appearance at Flushing Meadows.

“I know Aga really well”. “It’s tough when it’s from the start because obviously you got to try to stop the bleeding at some point, you know”.

Djokovic broke Federer in the second game, sprinting to a 3-0 led before the crowd had settled. Yet he didn’t surrender in the third.

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 crowd, behind Federer, lapped it up.

“My rhythm, my timing, all that, was a bit off in the beginning”, Federer told reporters.

Federer had more success against Djokovic than any other player past year, beating him three times, but Melbourne Park is the world No1’s kingdom. The Swiss sprinted back and hit a return lob of his own. It’s Djokovic’s favourite – but there are plenty of rivals for the Serb.

In the fourth, they played the point of the match. He’d then lose four straight points. Risky. But it had worked in spurts.