BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- A statement of a performance from Novak Djokovic in the semi-final round of the Australian Open. The two-time defending champion and world number one was taking on the fourth seeded David Ferrer for a place in the final.
Djokovic is looking for an unprecedented third straight title in Melbourne and if he plays like he did in the round of four in the finale he could very well make history in the title match this weekend.
Djokovic would absolutely crush the fourth-seeded Spaniard on Thursday night and he started the rout with a 6-2 first set win that took less than 30 minutes.
As the semi-final progressed it appeared the Serbian was playing the 400th-ranked player in the world rather than a man who won seven titles in 2012 and had been to four previous grand slam semi-finals.
The Serb dominated when on serve, often rattling through games to love, and after the first set 6-2 win, Djokovic would back that up by taking the second by an identical scoreline.
And as the third set rolled on, it looked at times as if the world number one was just toying with Ferrer. This lob in the fifth game, an example of the control Djokovic displayed over his game on the night.
And the two-time defending champ, who may have played one of the matches of his career would waste little time in advancing to the Australian Open final with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 destruction of fourth seed David Ferrer in only 89 minutes.
Djokovic said, "I definitely prefer being fitter for the final and having a little bit more time than I had in 2012. It’s quite different circumstances that I have to face this time. You know, last year I played five hours in semis and had only a day and a half to recover for another six hours with Nadal. This year it hasn’t been the case, and I’m very glad."
(Source: CNTV.cn)