The tennis world has been yearning for someone to challenge Roger Federer’s record-breaking domination and Novak Djokovic is being touted as the one in Friday’s Australian Open semifinal.
The peerless Swiss rules his contemporaries like no other. He secured the number one ranking for an unprecedented 209th week after sweeping into a record 15th consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.
Federer is approaching the all-time Grand Slam record of 14 titles held by Pete Sampras and if he wins here it will be his 13th Major.
But all eras must end eventually. Some believe there are signs that Federer’s grip on men’s tennis is loosening and the 20-year-old Serb may be the one to inflict his first defeat in a hard court Grand Slam in three years.
Russian Marat Safin vanquished Federer 9-7 in the fifth set of their epic 2005 Australian semifinal and since then the Swiss has sailed on everywhere but the clay of Roland Garros.
Djokovic hasn’t dropped a set in reaching his showdown with Federer for his fourth consecutive Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
The third seed gave promise of things to come when he diced with Federer at last year’s US Open final, squandering seven set points only to lose two tiebreakers on the way to a straight sets loss.
Djokovic did beat Federer in the ATP Masters Series final in Montreal last year and trails 5-1 overall in their matches.
The confident youngster has talked up his chances of preventing Federer from carrying off his fourth Australian crown, especially after compatriot Janko Tipsarevic took the top seed to 10-8 in the fifth in a third-round fright.
”I’m feeling really, really good at the moment, physically and mentally,” said Djokovic.
”I’m showing all my strength and I’ve made some changes. I have been working on my skills in the past couple weeks. I’m playing with a lot of confidence.”
Federer has seen it all before and says he is not put out by Djokovic’s confidence.
”It’s like reliving this whole thing, but this is the way you’re supposed to think out there,” he said.
”You are not coming here to lose in the first round. You’re coming here to do well and then win the tournament if you’re one of the top 10 guys.
”That’s reality. That’s nothing new. That’s not cocky. That’s confidence. That’s just a normal tennis player.”
Federer’s great strength is his ability to play the pressure points better than anyone else, as evidenced in his US Open final with Djokovic.
Djokovic showed he is fallible with jangling nerves causing him to need five match points to put away Spaniard David Ferrer in their quarterfinal here.
He admits he has a struggle within to overcome his churning emotions and block out distractions from taunting fans.
”It’s really difficult sometimes to control your emotions in such big matches and important points,” Djokovic said.
”It is a lot of pressure, so in some key moments something just flips and then you behave like you don’t want.
”But I’m working on that. I’m still young and I still need to improve some elements in the game as well as the mental stabilisation.”
Federer hasn’t been at his best in Melbourne, being taken to five sets by Tipsarevic, surrendering early service breaks to James Blake in their quarterfinal and failing to serve out a match.
But it can be foolhardy writing off a champion and Federer has made a habit of deflating his challengers.
”I’m very happy the way it’s been going. I beat two very dangerous and tough opponents with [Tomas] Berdych, and Blake and to come through and beat them in straight sets, I’m really pleases about that score,” he said. — AFP
