What to Watch on Thursday, Day 11 at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic, left, of Serbia is congratulated by Roger Federer of Switzerland after their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Federer rolled back the years and won an exceptional 70-minute opening set in a tiebreak and then claimed the second set before the Serb took the third set and was serving for the fourth. Doesn’t get much better.

Asked after she beat Johanna Konta in the semifinals if she would seek out Graf’s advice, Kerber laughed and said, “Steffi, write me please”.

“You have to be on the top of your game because he hasn’t really dropped the level at all I think in the last seven, eight years that I’ve been playing against him”, Djokovic related.

“I came up with the right intensity”.

“I executed everything perfectly”. Federer couldn’t find any chinks in Djokovic’s armor, inevitably leading the Swiss’ form to break down.

“Of course I wanted to do well”, Federer said. The Scot also won both the pair’s last two meetings, each time in straight sets.

Djokovic said he felt privileged to be in contention for a historic sixth Australian Open crown, as the tournament was his first major victory in 2008. So it is fair to assume that Federer is the most likely candidate to stop the Djokovic juggernaut if that is to happen. Hopefully I’ll be able to deliver.

“Tomorrow’s match is going to be interesting to watch”, Djokovic said. He won in Brisbane and he is feeling confident.

The world number three is redefining the career trajectory for men’s tennis as he remains among the elite at a time when most players his age have faded or already retired.

Federer hasn’t bested the runaway world number at a major since the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2012, when he last won a Grand Slam title. Picking up from a fine 2015, the third seed has continued to pursue a more aggressive approach on the court, something he believes could enable him to succeed on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

Djokovic’s tennis in the opening set on Thursday night was as good as it gets. I think that makes me play better.

First of all, it was a three-set match.

No one’s complaining mind you, though ESPN’s Australian Open broadcasters did comment on it during Federer’s Tuesday afternoon match against sixth-seed Tomas Berdych.

The No. 4-ranked Radwanska broke Williams’ serve to level the second set at 3-3, but Williams broke Radwanska’s serve in the ninth game and closed with three aces and a forehand victor to win the match in 1 hour, 4 minutes.

Federer restored some pride by taking the third set and made the champion work hard through some breathtaking rallies in the fourth before the Serbian took his place in a title decider against Andy Murray or Milos Raonic. After it was done, I had to just forget about it and focus on the next point.

“It is not easy to keep playing the way that he played”.

Djokovic used the few minutes break in play to marshall his forces and wait for an opportunity. You’ve got to be concentrated. It doesn’t take much.

The two came into the match at an even 22-22 in their career head-to-head.

Djokovic, however, regained his composure to flick a backhand pass of his own, before drilling a return at Federer’s feet to clinch the break.

While Djokovic experienced a hiccup in an error-laden five-set fourth-round clash with Gilles Simon, Federer has looked supreme in making it through to the last four at this year’s Australian Open, dropping just one set along the way.