25th January, 2012
Once a grand slam liability, Novak Djokovic showcased new-found resilience to overcome David Ferrer and guarantee the Australian Open a dream semi-final cast in the quarter final game on Wednesday at the Australian Open.
Herald Sun reports that the world No. 1 was obviously inconvenienced by leg and breathing problems as he struggled to stave off Ferrer 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 to move into the last four.
The Serb will on Friday face Scot Andy Murray, the fourth seed, as world No. 2 Rafael Nadal and grand slam record-holder Roger Federer prepare to square off in the other semi-final on Thursday.
For the third time in five majors, the world’s top four players are the tournament’s sole survivors – fittingly so at the 100th men’s championships, and in the presence of tennis king Rod Laver.
It is the only third time since 1987 that the top four men’s seeds have marched into the semi-finals at the Open.
But it was a traumatic win for Djokovic, whose early career was blighted by breathing issues and a questionable habit of retiring mid-match.
“I figured out I had to step in. I was lucky to get out of the second set. It’s hard to breath when you’re having 35-shot rallies.
“Once I had the momentum, I felt better,” Djokovic said.
The advance of the Big Four – Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray – extends a phenomenal dominance.
Since Wimbledon 2005, only one of the ensuing 27 grand slams has been claimed by a player other than the quartet – Juan Martin del Potro at the 2009 US Open.
Over the past six years, the consistency of the sport’s flagbearers has been staggering, even though triple finalist Murray is yet to win a major.
Federer has reached at least the semis 24 times, Nadal (17), Djokovic (14) and Murray (nine).
For a time, it looked as if world No. 5 Ferrer was about to crash a cosy party.
The superbly fit Spaniard was never going to be a pushover for the sport’s premier player, as evidenced by the 22 minutes it took to play the first three games.
It took a sublime returning game – capped by a perfect lob and equally stunning angled forehand winner – for Djokovic to snap the deadlock to break serve in the fifth game.
Taking 58 minutes to move ahead, Djokovic broke serve again in the first game of the second set, but it took him 10 minutes to do it.
Inevitably, the Serb exertions came at a cost as he showed sign of a left leg issue after two more games.
And when Djokovic grimaced while grabbing at his left hamstring en route to dropping serve for 2-all, alarm bells rang.
He also struggled with breathing and timing as Ferrer sensed opportunity.
But it was a mirage.
Although Djokovic opened the door on several occasions, twice dropping serve in the second set and trailing 2-4 in the tiebreak, he was simply too brilliant.
Complaining to his support staff about breathing difficulty as Murray’s coach Ivan Lendl monitored proceedings, Djokovic soaked up Ferrer’s incredible retrieving to stamp his authority.
He won the final five points of the tiebreak and then broke serve in the opening game of the third set.
And, suddenly, what had loomed as a potential upset was transformed into straight sets victory.
Djokovic committed more unforced errors – 38 to 36 – but found more winners – 32 to 18