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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Katy Murrells

Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer to reach Australian Open final – as it happened

Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the men’s singles semi-final against Roger Federer.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the men’s singles semi-final against Roger Federer. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Right that’s it from me. Thanks for reading/emailing/tweeting. We’ll be back tomorrow with coverage of the second semi-final between Alex Zverev and Dominic Thiem. Jamie Murray also plays for a place in the mixed doubles final. Bye!

In case you’ve missed it, here’s more on what happened in two gripping women’s semi-finals earlier:

Djokovic speaks:

It could have definitely gone a different way. He started off really well, I was pretty nervous at the beginning. Respect to Roger for coming out tonight, he was obviously hurt and wasn’t close to his best in terms of movement.

It was not the right mindset from me at the beginning of the match, I was looking at how he was moving rather than executing my shots. I managed to dig my way back and it was very important to win that first set.

Djokovic wags his finger in the air and beats his chest. The pair exchange pleasantries at the net before Federer departs the Rod Laver Arena. He’ll be having nightmares tonight about the way the first set slipped away from him and, given Federer’s physical problems, once Djokovic was ahead there was only going to be one winner. Djokovic will play either Alex Zverev or Dominic Thiem in the final on Sunday. It would take a supreme performance from the younger challenger to deny Djokovic on the court where he has produced some of the finest displays of his career.

Novak Djokovic consoles Roger Federer after their match.
Novak Djokovic consoles Roger Federer after their match. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters

Updated

Djokovic beats Federer 7-6, 6-4, 6-3

15-0 ... 30-0 ... the pair then move each other right and left and right and left and Federer emerges victorious with an unreturned bullet of a backhand. And then a crunching cross-court forehand from Federer gets him to 30-all! Two of his best shots of the match. He’s saved the best for last. But a stubborn Djokovic comes right back, as he always does, and it’s match point, 40-30. Djokovic misses the first serve, then bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce, bounces the ball before landing his second, and Federer’s shot flops into the net! Djokovic has got the better of Federer for the fourth time in an Australian Open semi-final and he’s now only one win away from a record-extending eighth title! Much of the talk this fortnight was about Rafael Nadal potentially matching Federer’s grand slam record of 20 but Djokovic is now on the verge of closing within two of Nadal and three of Federer. He may well end up being the greatest of them all.

Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Roger Federer.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Roger Federer. Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

Updated

Third set: Federer 6-7, 4-6, 3-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Djokovic looks in the mood to finish this on Federer’s serve. It’s 30-all. But there’s a wry smile from Djokovic when he can’t make it match point. Federer has game point at 40-30 and Djokovic then whistles wide. But the defending champion is about to step up to serve for a place in his eighth Australian Open final ...

Third set: *Federer 6-7, 4-6, 2-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

“Given Nadal’s loss to Them last night and the fact that Thiem has beaten him on clay once each of the last three years, 2020 Paris is by no means a given,” says Shankar Mony. “And Novak does look healthiest and best of equals. For my money, Novak is the most complete of the three and should get to 20 and beyond, as deserved richly.”

And this from Peter Kane: “The debate is close to over as regards the greatest of all time, Djoko’s professional record is better all but for the slams. But critically his head to head is better against both Nadal and Federer. And if he stays healthy, he has 5 years on Federer to close the slam tally. Djoko is the GOAT..”

Djokovic whizzes through another service game and it’s now just a matter of putting the finishing touches on this win ..

Novak Djokovic fires a forehand from the baseline.
Novak Djokovic fires a forehand from the baseline. Photograph: Michael Dodge/EPA

Updated

Third set: Federer 6-7, 4-6, 2-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Federer seems safe at 40-15, is pulled back to 40-30, and then deuce when he fluffs his lines and nets a weak backhand. It’s the first deuce game of the set. Wife Mirka grimaces in the stands. So does an ailing Federer as he stretches his aching body. It’s break point. And Federer is flailing when Djokovic lands possibly the decisive blow in this match with a looping forehand that HawkEye confirms grazed the line.

Updated

Third set: *Federer 6-7, 4-6, 2-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

“I wish people would give Djokovic the support and respect that he deserves (in Australia and elsewhere) as he is a competitor like no other that contributed immensely to the sport and today’s match is no exception,” writes Katerina Hemalova. I think if he wasn’t playing Federer here he would be getting more love from the crowd: they do respect what Djokovic has done here in winning seven titles, but cheering against Federer is almost deemed sacrilegious in tennis. There’s a smattering of applause as Djokovic holds to 15.

Third set: Federer 6-7, 4-6, 2-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Federer produces a hat-trick of aces to defiantly hold to love.

The crowd watch as Roger Federer stretches for a return.
The crowd watch as Roger Federer stretches for a return. Photograph: Dave Hunt/EPA

Updated

Third set: Federer *6-7, 4-6, 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

Of course a great subplot to this match is the race to finish as the GOAT. If Djokovic goes on to win the title, he’ll be on 17 slams, two behind Nadal on 19 (who’ll surely make it 20 at the French Open) and three behind Federer. And Djokovic looks as if he has the time and health on his side to surpass both. Who do you think will end top of tennis’s great triumvirate? But back to on-court matters, where a hold apiece makes it 1-1, before Djokovic comes through a slightly trickier game to 30. Once again most of the spectators can’t bring themselves to applaud Djokovic getting another game on the board. Though the Serbian supporters back their man with a “Nole! Nole! Nole!”

Updated

Djokovic wins the second set 6-4

Federer’s in danger at 30-all and again at deuce. The alarm bells are then ringing at full volume when Djokovic produces a stinging return of serve for set point. Surely Federer isn’t coming back from two sets down? But he’s going to have to try, because more outstanding play from Djokovic, as he chases down a drop shot before sending it past Federer, secures the set. The Rod Laver Arena falls virtually silent. But Djokovic – fists pumping and eyes bulging – is roaring.

Novak Djokovic reacts after winning the second set.
A fist pump from Novak Djokovic ... Photograph: Francis Malasig/EPA
Novak Djokovic reacts after winning the second set.
And some bulging eyes and a roar. Photograph: Michael Dodge/AAP

Updated

Second set: Federer *6-7, 4-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

This set hasn’t had the wild swings in momentum of the first, but it’s absorbing nonetheless, as it moves steadily to its denouement with both players attempting to out-serve each other. From Federer’s love hold to a 15 hold for Djokovic, who’s dropped only two points on serve in this set. Federer must hold to avoid going two sets to love down.

Second set: Federer 6-7, 4-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game, as the ace count hits 12. A love hold will give Djokovic something to think about. Credit to Federer for the way he’s hauled himself off the canvas after the way he was beaten up by Djokovic at the end of the first set.

Roger Federer focuses on a backhand.
Roger Federer focuses on a backhand. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters

Updated

Second set: *Federer 6-7, 3-4 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

Federer is definitely attacking the net more in this set, an approach that is bringing some reward, despite Djokovic’s immense passing ability. That said, on game point to Djokovic here, Federer can’t produce any fireworks at the net and it’s another straightforward hold for the Serb.

Second set: Federer 6-7, 3-3 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Gasps as the 38-year-old Federer shows lighting reactions at the net to deal with Djokovic’s thunderbolts and it’s 30-all. Make that 30-40. Djokovic doesn’t take advantage of the break point when he could – and perhaps should – have done better. Instead he biffs a backhand long. Deuce. And from there Federer fights for the hold.

Updated

Second set: *Federer 6-7, 2-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

A tactics change-up helps Federer hold to 30 with some serve-volleying. Cue some more “let’s go Roger, let’s go” inanity – but given Federer’s wounds are still raw from the first set the chants seem more in hope than belief. Djokovic then darts through another service game, holding to 15, and that’s five successive holds – a different story to the first set. Fancy a stat attack? Sure you do.

Second set: *Federer 6-7, 1-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

A love hold for Djokovic as the sun sets on Rod Laver. Into the night we go ...

The view in Melbourne
The view in Melbourne. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Second set: Federer 6-7, 1-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

This could be about to go from bad to worse for Federer. It’s 15-40 on his serve. He can’t afford to go a break and a set down, especially if he’s feeling it physically. He grits his teeth and gets to deuce. Djokovic is shrugging and shaking his head when he misses the chance to get a third break point of the game. Djokovic’s forehand is then called out but it was a very late call, Djokovic decides to challenge, and HawkEye confirms the defending champion went wide. Federer steadies himself with a valuable hold.

Second set: *Federer 6-7, 0-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

Djokovic starts the set with a comfortable hold. And here’s that point at 5-1 in the breaker for your viewing pleasure:

So for the second match in a row, Federer has called for a rare medical timeout, something that he said after the quarter-finals is a “sign of weakness”. He must be hurting. But not only physically, given the way Djokovic broke him mentally in that first set. Djokovic also decides to see a doctor and takes a pill for something. It’s all going on. But Federer is back and Djokovic will get this second set under way...

Roger Federer
Roger Federer leaves the court for medical treatment. Photograph: Andy Wong/AP

Updated

Updated

Djokovic wins the first-set tie-break 7-1

Outstanding play from Djokovic brings up five set points. He produces quite possibly the shot of the match with a delightful drop-shot around the net post while on the run and the ball bounces in. And a ripping return gives Djokovic the set! After Federer had led 4-1, 40-0! But you just can’t beat Djokovic, the Superman of tennis, even when he’s down.

Novak Djokovic celebrates
Novak Djokovic celebrates after securing the first set. Photograph: Scott Barbour/AAP

Updated

First set tie-break: Federer 1-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Neither player has lost a tie-break this year, so something’s gotta give. My money’s on Djokovic, given he’s got the momentum and has a habit of getting under the skin of Federer when it matters most. He rattles through the first three points for a 3-0 lead, before Federer gets on the board with a rasping winner. That will have felt good. But the next point won’t, because Federer meekly nets. An ace from Djokovic and he changes ends very much in command leading 5-1 ...

Updated

First set: *Federer 6-6 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

Djokovic is serving to take this set into a tie-break, which is, incidentally, how the first set of their Wimbledon final was decided too. Djokovic won that breaker 7-5. And he sets up another here by holding to 30 with a stinging serve out wide that Federer can only prod into the net.

First set: Federer 6-5 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Federer, from 5-2 up in the set, is now serving at 5-5, 15-40 down, despite a stunning stop volley on the opening point. Some scar tissue from that Wimbledon final? Perhaps. Maybe he still wonders how he let that one slip away. But back to today’s proceedings. Federer flicks away an overhead and then saves the second break point too. Deuce. Advantage Federer. Game Federer. A gutsy, gutsy hold.

First set: *Federer 5-5 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

At 30-15, the pair are both flirting with the lines, and Djokovic then hits deep to Federer’s backhand, which loops well long. Djokovic quickly serves it out from 40-15. That’s three games on the spin for Djokovic. Just as he was for much of last year’s Wimbledon final, he’s been the inferior player this set, but he could still find a way to silence Federer.

Updated

First set: Federer 5-4 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

As Federer steps up to serve for the first set, the crowd chant “Let’s go Roger, let’s go.” Cue Ross McGillivray. “Is there a more inane chant than ‘let’s go (insert name) let’s go ...’” he emails. “If I was in charge I’d chuck em out.” Perhaps to demonstrate the inanity of said chanting, Federer flops 0-40 down. He can’t find a first serve. And then Djokovic does what Djokovic does, stepping up in the big moment, laughing in the face of adversity, and breaking Federer to love after a long rally in which Federer eventually nets. They’re back on serve.

Updated

First set: *Federer 5-3 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

One positive for Djokovic: he is, at least, serving with new balls. But even they don’t give him the instant boost he needs. 0-15. 0-30. Djokovic darts forward and thumps away a winner – but has his heart in his mouth for a brief moment when it looks as if he may touch the net and therefore concede the point. 15-30. 30-all. 40-30. Djokovic has missed only six first serves so far but still has his back against the wall. Deuce. Advantage Djokovic. Djokovic lives to fight another game in this set.

Updated

First set: Federer 5-2 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Federer has been averaging 10 aces a match in Melbourne but he’s already up to seven in this semi-final. 15-0. 30-0. 40-0. He’s serving so sweetly. And a netted Djokovic return gives Federer a love game in just over a minute. Djokovic must hold serve to prevent Federer from taking an unexpected one-set lead in this match.

First set: *Federer 4-2 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

0-15. 0-30. 0-40. Federer has nothing to lose and is going for broke. Djokovic looks shell-shocked. Djokovic’s box has something to cheer about when a well-judged challenge gets him back to 30-40. But there’s still a third break point to save, Federer steps in and attempts to put away the forehand ... and thwacks into the net! From 0-40 to deuce. This would be a massive hold for Djokovic. The Serb is a little lucky to get to advantage, is pulled back to deuce, edges to advantage once more, and holds when Federer flings a backhand wide. What looked as if it may be about to become a 5-1 deficit is now 4-2. How crucial could that be in this set?

First set: Federer 4-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

The spectators are screaming in delight when Federer’s smash gets him to 40-30. And a third ace of the game backs up the break.

First set: *Federer 3-1 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

Raging against the lack of love from the crowd almost makes Djokovic a better player though. “When the crowd is chanting ‘Roger’ I hear ‘Novak’,” said the Serb after his Wimbledon win. “It sounds silly, but it is like that.” He appears on course for the most straightforward hold of this match so far at 40-15 but that quickly becomes deuce and then break point Federer. Djokovic survives and does so again on a second advantage for Federer, but is unable to resist a third break point when, off balance, he makes a mess of his backhand. That’s three breaks in a row and 11 points lost on Djokovic’s serve so far in two games. The crowd are happy but Djokovic is not.

“Seeing how tremendously well Federer is playing with just having broken Djokovic, makes knew wonder whether or not he was injured in the previous game ...or was it all a tactic for that opponent and this opponent?” emails Xhindoli Lela. “Tennis is such a mental game and this match will surely be nothing short of that.”

Updated

First set: Federer 2-1 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

Neither of these players is having it easy on serve. No sooner does Federer break than he is broken to 30, with Djokovic demonstrating why he’s considered the game’s greatest returner. The crowd roared in delight when Federer broke; Djokovic’s break is greeted by silence. Poor Novak. He’s the seven-times champion here – what does he have to do to get some love against Federer? Someone give him a hug.

First set: *Federer 2-0 Djokovic (*denotes next server)

Federer appears to have that suspect groin strapped but he’s moving freely and flicks away a backhand winner for 15-30 on Djokovic’s serve. Djokovic goes for the sideline but skews his forehand just wide. 15-40. Now Federer has two break points after Djokovic had the same in the opening game. And Federer strikes on the first when he somehow threads a backhand through the eye of a needle to pull off a passing winner with virtually his back to the court! Wow.

First set: Federer 1-0 Djokovic* (*denotes next server)

So it’s Federer to get this semi-final under way. And it’s not the most auspicious of starts. He slides 0-30 down. A strong serve reduces his arrears to 15-30 but then a longer exchange plays out on the next point – these are the kind of rallies where you’d put your money on Djokovic – and Federer eventually flaps into the net after a 17-shot encounter. Two break points for Djokovic right from the off. 15-40. Federer fends off the first and fires away a cross-court forehand winner off Djokovic’s return on the second. Deuce. Advantage Federer. Deuce. Advantage Federer. Deuce. Given Federer’s fitness issues he could do without such a long opening duel. Advantage Federer. Deuce. Advantage Federer, courtesy of a third ace. Federer eventually holds after a six-minute game.

For the second consecutive match Djokovic is wearing the initials KB on his tracksuit in tribute to his friend and mentor Kobe Bryant. He takes it off for the warm-up, and is once again in green, with Federer in navy and purple. Do remember you can get in touch with any musings via email or Twitter. Let’s talk!

Here they come, making their way through the corridors of the Rod Laver Arena, with Federer, the six-times champion, stepping on to court just before Djokovic, the seven-times winner. It’s 7.41pm in the evening in Melbourne and it’s still 38 degrees.

Federer says: “Novak also has gone on all these runs like I did for 10 years. He did the same for the last 10 years. I think conditions suit us well here. Start the year strong. Probably something to do with court speed, feeling comfortable down here. It helps when you start the year off with a bang like he did at the ATP Cup.”

Djokovic says: “He is one of the all-time greats and the match-ups against Roger and Rafa have made me the player I am today. You know he’s always going to play at such a high level, regardless of the surface.”

So what does Federer need to do? He’ll have to hit the spots with his serve, be laser-like in hitting the lines, take risks and hold his nerve in the big moments. And perhaps put some stones in the Serb’s shoes.

But back to Federer v Djokovic. This will be the 50th meeting between the pair. Djokovic leads the head-to-head 26-23, which includes a 3-1 record in Melbourne, and each of those three wins came in the semi-finals (Djokovic has a perfect 14-0 record in semi and final matches at the Australian Open). Federer has also not beaten his rival at a slam since 2012, but it’s not all bad news for him; he did win their last meeting, at the ATP World Tour Finals in November. However that was on a faster court in a best-of-three-set match. This is very different.

No Brit managed to make it out of the second round of the singles last week, but Britain will have a finalist in Melbourne because Joe Salisbury and his American partner Rajeev Ram have won their men’s doubles semi. The 11th seeds beat Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and Mikhail Kukushkin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on the Evonne Goolagong sorry Margaret Court Arena. They will face the Australian wildcards Luke Saville and Max Purcell in Sunday’s final.

Kevin’s been busy. Here’s his preview of Federer v Djokovic:

And he’s also been giving his thoughts on Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe’s protest against Margaret Court:

Updated

Here’s a report from our man in Melbourne, Kevin Mitchell:

Ashleigh Barty fell just short of pleasing millions of Australians when the American Sofia Kenin gritted her teeth on the hottest day of the 2020 Australian Open to win their semi-final 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

Her opponent in the final on Saturday night is Garbiñe Muguruza, who beat the world No 3 Simona Halep in the second semi-final 7-6 (10-8), 7-5. The Spaniard, who arrived with a viral illness and was unseeded in a slam for the first time in six years, took the title favourite out of her stride at key moments in both sets, despite 44 unforced errors in just over two hours.

Had Barty been able to drag the match into a third set, they would have had to take a 10-minute break according to the regulations of the tournament. The heat stress reading hovered just below five, which would have required the match to be suspended. Neither player wanted that. Both fought hard all the way.

Kenin’s Russian-born father, Alex, (who calls her Sonya) arrived in America with $300 in his pocket – mirroring the experience of Maria Sharapova and her father – and he could hardly stop beaming in the stands. The journey has a little way to go, but this was a landmark event, passage into her first slam final at 21, saving two set points in each set against the world No 1.

You can read the rest here:

And we’ve also got some reaction from Barty:

Updated

Perhaps Federer can take heart from the fact it’s been the day of the underdog. A short time ago in the women’s semis Garbine Muguruza, unseeded at a slam for the first time in six years, upset the Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, 7-6 (8), 7-5, fighting off four set points in the opening set and twice coming from a break down in the second. Earlier the inspired Russian-born American Sofia Kenin edged out the world No 1 Ashleigh Barty by almost the same score, 7-6 (6), 7-5, in the most sweltering conditions of the tournament so far (just hearing that the mercury hit 40 degrees is warming me up after my winter walk into Guardian Towers). It will be a first grand slam final for the 21-year-old Kenin, a first Australian Open final for the former French Open and Wimbledon champion Muguruza, while for Barty and Australia, the 42-year wait for a home female champion will go on.

Preamble

It’s been a tough week or so for poor Roger Federer. First he was forced to come from 8-4 down in a final-set tie-break to get past Australia’s John Millman in the third round; then he had to save seven match points against the world No 100, Tennys Sandgren, in the quarter-finals when he showed rare physical and mental vulnerability by playing on almost one leg and getting a slap on the wrists for swearing; and now he’s got to face the virtually unbeatable Melbourne machine Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. The same Novak Djokovic who, in their last grand slam meeting six months ago, had the audacity to save two championship points before denying him in that Wimbledon final. The indignity of it all! At least Dominic Thiem did him a favour by bundling out Rafael Nadal yesterday and ending the Spaniard’s bid to draw level with Federer’s record of 20 grand slam titles – for the time being at least. Had the GOAT become only the joint GOAT by Sunday, that really would have added insult to injury.

In contrast Djokovic has been doing what Djokovic does at the Australian Open, moving through the draw with ominous intent. The Serbian cyborg has not dropped a set since his opening match against the big-hitting German Jan-Lennard Struff, has lost serve only once in the past four rounds and dominated a dangerous Milos Raonic as he laid down a marker in the quarter-finals. Djokovic looks to be close to his best and a record-extending eighth title would make him to this slam what Federer is to Wimbledon. It looks as if Federer may need a third Melbourne miracle to beat his great rival in their 50th meeting but, until the last ball is hit, the man who has been down so many times this tournament cannot be entirely ruled out.

The players will be on court at around: 7.30pm Melbourne time/8.30am GMT.

In the meantime: why not keep yourself entertained with memories of their Wimbledon tussle from last year. The 11-minute highlights are probably preferable to the full four hours and 57 minutes if you want to check back in time for today’s encounter.

Updated

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