• Serb will face Andy Murray or David Ferrer in final
A day after Rafael Nadal, limped off the Australia Open, Roger Federer continued, despite his exit visa was not stamped with an injury clause.
We live in changing times. If Andy Murray is ever going to win a Grand Slam, a private tournament's two best players of all time would be a good place to start. The only problem is, if he beats the softer option in the group of survivors, David Ferrer, in his semi-final tomorrow night, standing in front of him on Sunday will be the Serbian Novak Djokovic in all its pomp intimidating.
His 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Federer in the demolition of the current first semifinal was the kind of performance that heralds a new era, which, Djokovic his fourth Grand Slam final, could have been more Pete Sampras beating Federer at Wimbledon in 2001. We'll see.
Federer looked worried, irritable and deadly as he complained and worried about Djokovic is no stranger to the vapors. It took exactly three hours to Federer, the defending champion, with nothing to defend, must have seemed like a life sentence.
Djokovic said: .. "He puts a lot of pressure on you is one of the best games I've played in a while I had to take my chances second group was a break and after 20 minutes it was 5-2. Down. I'm happy to difficult times and enjoy the Rod Laver Arena. "
Tennis is an accumulation of skirmishes and random moments. No one understands better than Federer, who has collected enough of them to win 16 Grand Slam tournaments, including the 2010 edition of this title.
Then it was real. This year was mixed again with the servants.
A set down and 2-1 behind Novak Djokovic of Serbia and 30-40 on serve in the second, Federer has a pen. He held a hand and pointed to a ball boy for removal. Sweating does not plusses and probably a public good death, the boy, maybe 10 years old, had trouble finding it. The world No 1, 20 meters away, went to the point of offending, the network pulled it out and put in your pocket.
Djokovic, meanwhile, was sweating too. When served, the momentum that had gathered evaporates in the cool night air of Melbourne, and after the commitments, Federer broke back.
These things happen. But then another string of small battles occurred, and Federer won eight in a row. He was flying. Djokovic Roger sank in time, just to share the newly created space-time by one of the most skilled players in the history of the game.
Federer served to love, held three break points in the wilting Djokovic's serve, then broke him at the end of a remarkable rally in which he saved an almost certain winner with the luck to get Murray calls his own.
He saved two break points on his serve and, after being on his knees (figuratively unlike Djokovic, who lost twice in the eighth game) led 5-2.
But then it happened. The man who invents his own world of tennis was brought back to earth. Djokovic, fighting his own game, somehow rediscovered the vim that had notched above the first set. Federer was castrated, as shot after shot eluded him. Djokovic took the first set 7-5 and the price before looking foolish game 13-8.
Federer had just been released from prison in the second round when he surrendered a two sets to Gilles Simon to win in five, here the reverse applied. Here was one, one step back and say Australians.
At deuce in Djokovic's serve in the second game of the third set, when he saw another feather. As Djokovic went through their pre-service routine, Federer gave Switzerland its coldest look for excess bounces off and the next point, Djokovic hit long. Point of breakdown and crisis.
Once again, Djokovic was ready for the challenge. The world No. 3 has apologized to all the sarcasm he could muster, looked to save, and went on to hold after 13 minutes and three break points. Federer feathers second time had passed.
Since then, the collection of small incidents stacked Djokovic. But there was a very delicious dilemma. If you go to kill, finish it off here or play conservatively, as had the luxury (if that is what it is in a match against Federer) of a two-set?
As it turned out, was Federer who answered falsely. Anxiety was with him and took risks that seemed oblivious to the quiet man in the sport.
More time, more crisis - and a break for a 2-1 lead. Federer complained to the referee at the time change of Djokovic-lose. Djokovic ignored. The stress was on the basis of Federer.
Djokovic was the safest option in the final and Federer, despite breaking her back again and that's cracked.
There were flashes of vintage Federer today in the first set, who should have won, but to go stand in the tie-break, and for some games in the second set. Outside these times, Djokovic choked him, upset him (unintentionally, I would) and toughed it out at pressure points.
Federer is a shame resorted to little tricks that has always aspired to a better performance than that. But, at the meeting of turmoil around him, which was consumed by the survival instinct. He could not do anything about their concentration wavering - the root cause of the break and a curse of age. Djokovic could do no wrong.
The Serbs knew the price and the value of all the little moments as well as Federer. And, when it really mattered, the youngest was too strong, too strong, too good for the champion.
It will take strong action to stop Djokovic to win the Australia Open. Federer Murray almost would have preferred - and what to say about the order of things?
