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SPORTSThursday 28 January 2016
Australian Open Semifinals:
Worlds collide as Federer faces Djokovic again
JOCELYN GECKER
Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)
— Novak Djokovic has a
larger than life presence at
the Australian Open.
His face smiles at fans from
sponsor’s billboards. His
voice gives inspirational
advice over center-court
speakers between match-
es.
There’s even a new ad-
dition to Melbourne Park
called “Novak’s World,”
where fans can slip on vir-
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Switzerland’s Roger Federer participate in an exhibition event on
Rod Laver Arena ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia.
Djokovic faces Federer in the semifinals at the Australian Open.
tual reality goggles and
feel as if they’re walking in
Djokovic’s shoes — as he
stretches in the locker room
and then walks out onto
the court as the crowd
roars.
A few years ago, the Aus-
tralian Open and the other
majors could have been
called “Roger’s World”
— when Roger Federer
was No. 1, still dominating
men’s tennis and the favor-
ite face of sponsors.
On Thursday, the two play-
ers’ worlds collide. Again.
The top-ranked Djokovic
will play No. 3 Federer in
a blockbuster semifinal
match at the Australian
Open. It will be the 45th in-
stallment in a riveting rivalry on tour.”
that is so equally split that
they are tied with 22 wins
each.
It’s a rematch of last year’s
final at the U.S. Open and
Wimbledon, both of which
Djokovic won in thrilling
nail-biters.
It will be their 15th matchup
at a Grand Slam tourna-
ment, more than any other
pair of men in tennis’ Open
era, which dates to 1968.
Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
have played each other
13 times at majors, Federer
and Nadal 11 and John
McEnroe and Ivan Lendl
10.
But more than just num-
bers, it is a tantalizing re-
match that holds great im-
portance to both players
as they try to cement their
place in history.
For Federer, who owns a
record 17 Grand Slam titles,
it offers a chance to prove
that his best is not entirely
behind him. He is 34, which
means that time really is
running out.
“It would mean a lot to me,
no doubt about it,” Federer
said Tuesday when asked
about the significance of
winning one more major
in the era of Djokovic. “It’s
part of the reason why I
guess I’m still playing. I feel aggressiveness at net.
like I’m competitive at the
top. I can beat all the guys
That is true, but the prob-
lem for Federer has been
making it happen in the
last round of a major.
Australian Open:
What to Watch on Thursday, Day 11
Federer hasn’t won a ma-
jor since Wimbledon in 2012 JOCELYN GECKER
despite repeatedly coming Associated Press
close. He was runner-up in MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A blockbuster Australian
2014 at Wimbledon and in Open semifinal between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and
2015 at Wimbledon and No. 3 Roger Federer will be the latest installment in the
the U.S. Open — beaten all tennis rivalry that has come to define recent seasons.
three times by Djokovic. It will be a rematch of last year’s final at the U.S. Open
The 28-year-old Djokovic and at Wimbledon, both of which Djokovic won.
finished 2015 as the No. 1 “We are, you know, big rivals,” said Djokovic, the de-
player for the fourth time fending champion. “We’ve played so many times
in five years. The Serb won against each other. There’s a lot of tension. There’s a
three Grand Slams — the lot at stake, I’m expecting a great fight.”
Australian Open, Wimble- It will be the 15th time Djokovic and Federer meet in a
don and the U.S. Open — Grand Slam, extending their own record for the most
and reached the final at matchups at the majors in the Open era, which start-
ed in 1968.
It will be the 45th matchup overall between the two
players who are tied at 22 wins each.
For Djokovic, it offers a chance to re-assert his domi-
nance after finishing the best season of his career. He
(AP Photo/Vincent Thian) finished 2015 at No. 1 for the fourth time in five years,
after winning at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and
the French Open. the U.S. Open, and reaching the final at the French
Djokovic is considered Open.
the best baseliner in the He has won 10 Grand Slam titles and is gaining on Fe-
game, contorting his body derer’s record 17.
as he stretches and slides For Federer, it offers a chance to prove that his best is
between defense and of- not entirely behind him. He hasn’t won a major since
fense. Wimbledon 2012, where he beat Djokovic in the semi-
In Melbourne, Federer has finals.
been playing a brilliant At 34, Federer is playing remarkable tennis. But at 28,
brand of attacking tennis, Djokovic is still in his prime with many years to go.
ushering him comfortably Federer was asked how meaningful it would be to win
through the draw and past another major in the Djokovic era.
No. 6 Tomas Berdych 7-6 “It would mean a lot to me, no doubt about it,” Fe-
(4), 6-2, 6-4. derer said. “It’s part of the reason why I guess I’m still
Djokovic and other play- playing.”
ers have commented that Both Djokovic and Federer are bidding to become
he’s playing as well as ever, the first man in the Open era to reach six Australian
if not better, deploying Open finals — of which Djokovic has won five and Fe-
well-honed new skills and derer four.
Some things to watch in the women’s semifinals:
“Roger is playing really ter-
rific tennis,” Djokovic said WILLIAMS VS. RADWANSKA: William has a serious win-
after his 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 quar- ning record against Radwanska, eight wins and zero
terfinal win over No. 7 Kei losses. The last time they met in a Grand Slam was the
Nishikori. “He’s got great Wimbledon final in 2012, when Williams won in three
defense, amazing offense. sets. Radwanska was ranked in the 30s back then,
He’s very complete. q and she’s now No. 4 in the world. Williams, meanwhile,
has continued to be a dominant No. 1. “It will be a
good match. She’s been playing really well towards
the end of the year, and already this year she’s been
very consistent,” Williams said of Radwanska, who
won a warmup event in Shenzhen. “She presents a
completely different game, an extremely exciting
game. So I think it will be a long match and it will be a
good match to see where I am.”
KERBER VS. KONTA: These are two players not used
to getting this far in a Grand Slam tournament —
No. 7-seeded Kerber has done it twice, once each
at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, and Konta never.
No surprise, then, they haven’t played each other as
most of the 24-year-old Konta’s successes have come
in lower-tier tournaments, not on the main WTA tour.
Konta was born in Sydney, Australia but took British
citizenship in 2012 after having lived there since 2005.
She also carries a Hungarian passport because her
parents are from there, so she refers to herself as a
“tri-citizen.” q