Australian Open Day 11, Semifinals Recap; Djokovic, Serena, Kerber, Advance

Novak Djokovic advanced to his sixth consecutive Australian Open final on Thursday, besting Roger Federer 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in a performance that was at times so masterful you almost forgot that his opponent was the most decorated player in the history of men’s tennis.

In a fourth set rivened by tension, Djokovic took Federer’s serve in the eighth game, benefiting from a lucky netcord that gave him a crucial break point, and served out the match to love in two hours and 19 minutes.

“I played flawless tennis for the first two sets, no doubt about it”.

But stopping Djokovic over five sets has been a nigh on impossible task for more than a year – with only Stan Wawrinka succeeding in that area in the 2015 French Open final – and so it proved again on Thursday.

But 17-time Grand Slam champions do not go away quietly.

“Definitely I’ve played an unbelievable first two sets but that’s what is necessary against Roger”, the Serb said courtside after setting up his sixth final at Melbourne Park against either Andy Murray or Milos Raonic. “As long as you lose a set, it’s not a good thing”, said third seed Federer. “I was very happy how I’ve been able to keep up my level”, he said.

Kerber stands between Williams and a 22nd grand slam singles title, which would allow the American to match the record of the German’s compatriot, childhood hero and mentor Steffi Graf.

“It’s only one month, but I think we can retire now, huh?”

Germany’s Angelique Kerber will meet Williams in the final, after the seventh seed ended the run of Britain’s Johanna Konta. Djokovic is bidding to equal Australian Roy Emerson’s record of six titles, set in the pre-Open era, while Federer is eyeing his fifth.

Somehow, he hauled himself back into the match in the third set but it was a brief respite as Djokovic restored order, breaking once to win the fourth and clinch a hugely impressive victory.

“I have self-confidence… that doesn’t fade away very quickly”, Federer said. Djokovic and Federer have split their last four meetings, but it is Djokovic who holds the edge in majors winning eight of 14 matchups, including the last three meetings. “I know that she brings a lot to the game”.

The No. 3-ranked Federer saved a break point in the first game and held serve, as the crowd roared trying to pull the Swiss star back into the match.

But Federer couldn’t convert and paid the price as Djokovic, after benefiting from a fortuitous net-cord victor, broke the Swiss for a decisive 5-3 advantage before closing out his 34th win from his past 35 grand slam encounters.

Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh posted a courtside selfie from the Rod Laver Arena.

“You’ve got to try and stop the bleeding at some point”, said Federer.

She’s unbeaten in the previous six, including past year against Maria Sharapova.

Soares is a two-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion, Tecau has one trophy and Vesnina has been in three finals.

But he took solace from another deep run at a Grand Slam tournament, which left him just two wins short of becoming the oldest Australian Open champion since a 37-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1972.