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SPORTSFriday 29 January 2016
Djokovic, Williams win Australian Open semifinals
Serena Williams of the United States plays a forehand return to Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland DENNIS PASSA service faults and giving
AP Sports Writer Federer a standing ova-
during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) tion when he broke to go
— Novak Djokovic called it ahead 4-2 in the third set.
Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) the best he has ever played The end came quickly in
against old foe Roger Fe- the fourth. Djokovic broke
derer. Serena Williams was Federer in the eighth game
just being her dominant to go up 5-3 — not even
self. a stunning down-the-line
The defending champions shot after he earlier chased
both made their way back down a lob on the same
to the Australian Open fi- point could save the Swiss
nal, with Djokovic beating great.
Federer 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 Djokovic held three match
and Williams defeating Ag- points in the next game
nieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-4 and he clinched it when Fe-
on Thursday. derer netted a backhand.
“I’ve had matches where Djokovic, who won three
I’ve played similar tennis,” Grand Slam titles last year,
said Djokovic, the top- took a 23-22 edge in his 45
ranked player in the world. meetings with Federer.
“But I think against Roger, “Definitely I’ve played un-
these first two sets have believable the first two sets
been probably the best but that’s what is necessary
two sets I’ve played against against Roger,” Djokovic
him overall throughout my said.
career.” Asked about the crowd
Hours earlier at Rod Laver support for Federer, Djokov-
Arena, Williams advanced ic displayed Swiss-like diplo-
to within one win of anoth- macy.
er Grand Slam milestone. “When I play Roger it’s
If the six-time Australian something that is expect-
Open champion wins Sat- ed, in a way, considering
urday’s final against sev- his career and his great-
enth-seeded Angelique ness on and off the court,”
Kerber, she will equal Steffi Djokovic said. “He’s loved.
Graf’s 22 major singles ti- He’s appreciated. He’s re-
tles, a record in the Open spected around the world.
era and the second-most For me it’s normal in a way.”
in history behind Margaret Federer said he wasn’t sur-
Court’s 24. prised by Djokovic’s early
“I was able to do every- blitz.
thing that I needed to do,” “I’ve seen Novak play this
Williams said of Thursday’s well before,” he said. “It’s
match. “I was really hitting tough when it’s from the
just all the right shots, mak- start because obviously
ing little to no errors, which you got to try to stop the
is kind of hard to play like bleeding at some point.
that.” He can get one or two sets
Djokovic, a five-time all of a sudden ... and it’s
champion at the Austra- tough to get back into it.”
lian Open, advanced to In the first semifinal match,
his sixth final at Melbourne Kerber ended Sydney-
Park. He’ll find out who his born British player Johanna
final opponent will be after Konta’s surprising run with
Andy Murray takes on Milos a 7-5, 6-2 win to reach her
Raonic on Friday. first Grand Slam final. Konta
For Federer, the signs were was the first British woman
ominous from the begin- since 1983 to reach the
ning. Djokovic held his first semifinals at a major tour-
service game at love and nament.
broke the 17-time Grand Williams is the overwhelm-
Slam champion in the sec- ing favorite in the final, and
ond. After seven minutes, not just based on recent
Federer was trailing 3-0. form. She continued her
The first set was over in 22 perfect streak in seven Aus-
minutes. Most spectators — tralian Open semifinals.
including a woman with a “I definitely block it out,”
sign reading: “Just Married Williams said in reply to a
But Willing to Exchange for question about equaling
Federer” — were behind Graf’s mark. “I was one off
him, applauding Djokovic’s last year, too. q
