Djokovic, Williams win Australian Open semifinals

MELBOURNE, Jan. 28, 2016 (Xinhua) – Switzerland’s Roger Federer waves as he leaves Rod Laver Arena after losing his men’s singles semifinal against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 28, 2016.

Djokovic now leads Federer for the first time in the pair’s career head-to-head, 23-22, and he has beaten the 34-year-old in all of their last four grand slam meetings. According to Boris Becker, Djokovic’s coach and a six-time Grand Slam victor himself, cutting down his time on court has been one of Djokovic’s biggest goals of late.

The momentum was with 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer when he won the third set, to huge cheers from the crowd, but with rain starting to fall in Melbourne, the roof was closed.

Roger Federer insists he isn’t a spent force after a heavy semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.

Djokovic broke Federer for a fifth time in the match in a sensational eighth game of the fourth set, featuring a forehand return victor for the break, and he safely served out for the match in the following game.

Djokovic said afterwards: “Against Roger, these first two sets have been probably the best two I have ever played against him”.

“So that’s why I came out with I think a great deal of self-belief and confidence and intensity, concentration”.

He served out the match and will meet the victor of the second semi-final between world number two Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, which will be played Friday night.

Sania Mirza and her Croatian partner Ivan Dodig entered the mixed doubles semi-finals at the Australian Open after posting straight-set win over defending champions Leander Paes and Martina Hingis.

“I think someone like Novak is well on his way trying to accomplish that”.

As for Djokovic, he was planning to enjoy two days off to prepare for his 19th Grand Slam final.

Germany’s Kerber, the seventh seed, earned her right to face Williams by beating unseeded Briton Johanna Konta 7-5, 6-2 to sweep into her maiden Grand Slam final.

The Swiss was finally putting pressure back on the world number one and he claimed the third set on his third set point, to a thunderous roar on Rod Laver Arena. At 15/30, the Swiss produced one of the points of the tournament as he chased down a Djokovic lob, then a smash, then a short volley to find the line with a remarkable backhand pass. But it would be the last point he won in the contest. The two-set lead was comforting, but it was a battle in the end. That would pull her even with Steffi Graf for the most majors in the Open era and second-most in history behind Margaret Court’s 24.

Unsurprisingly, those on social media also showed the love for the five-time Australian Open victor.

“After one of us won the Australian, you’d say, I guess I’m going for the Grand Slam”.

“I’m going to try to stay here as long as possible”.

Despite her 21 major titles and all her success, it is a loss that is inspiring Williams in this tournament.

“I prepare myself the best for these three guys – Nadal, Federer and Murray”.