Thursday, January 28, 2016

Djokovic Wins Semifinal Showdown Against Federer

Novak Djokovic

Photo courtesy of Yann Caradec's Flickr Page - Novak Djokovic: https://www.flickr.com/photos/la_bretagne_a_paris/5763317762
Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

This was the big match between what is arguably the greatest rivalry in the sport right now.

Djokovic versus Roger Federer. The two men who have been ranked number one for a combined nine of the last 12 years. Nadal holds the other three years, but they were broken up, coming in 2008, 2010, and finally, in 2013. That is undeniably an incredible achievement, although Federer and now Djokovic have now managed to hold the top ranking in men's tennis for years in a row, and the level of consistency that the two men have displayed has been virtually unprecedented, which spiced this rivalry up.

The rivalry was tied up at 22-22, with this being the de facto tie-breaker between the two men. Federer has won matches recently against Novak, although Djokovic has won the more important matches, particularly at the Grand Slams. And he notched another one earlier today.

Djokovic won the first two sets incredibly easily, and did so in less than one hour. However, Federer came alive in the third set, taking it 6-3, and playing very well, showing that he would not simply be pushed around.

Still, Djokovic is almost unbeatable once he takes a two sets to none lead in a Grand Slam tournament, and it proved to be the case today, as well, as he was able to close Federer out in the fourth set.

The final score was in favor of Djokovic, 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Now, Novak will head to another Australian Open Final, where he will meet either the familiar Andy Murray of Britain or Milos Raonic, the Canadian star emerging as one of the dominant forces in men's tennis himself.

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