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Friday, 29 January 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his semi-final match against Switzerland’s Roger Federer at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, 28 January. REUTERS/
Reuters: Champion Novak Djokovic foiled a stirring fightback from Roger Federer to defeat the Swiss 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 at the Australian Open on Thursday and charge into a fifth successive grand slam final.
Storming to a two-set lead within an hour, Djokovic appeared destined to complete a stinging humiliation under the lights of Rod Laver Arena but the net-rushing Federer responded brilliantly in the third as a partisan crowd roared him on.
In a fourth set rivened by tension, the world number one 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.
“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.
“I knew he was going to be aggressive and try to mix up his pace and come to the net.
“I executed everything perfectly. A two-set lead is more comforting but it was a battle in the end.”
Djokovic continued his grand slam mastery of the 34-year-old Swiss, having beaten him in six of their previous seven matches at the majors, including last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals.
The head-to-head record between the pair has now also swung symbolically in Djokovic’s favour, with the Serb edging ahead 23-22 in their 45 matches.
The record 15th grand slam encounter between the pair was billed as a blockbuster but threatened to be a one-sided rout.
The 15,000 spectators barely had time to settle in their seats before Djokovic had sewn up the first set in 22 minutes.
“My rhythm, my timing, all that, was a bit off in the beginning,” Federer told reporters.”He took advantage of that and did an unbelievable job for a long, long time tonight.”
