In a thrilling semi-final match at the Rod Laver Arena, defending champion Novak Djokovic defeated his long-time rival Roger Federer in straight sets 7-6, 6-4, 6-3, securing his spot in the championship match.
After the match, Djokovic acknowledged Federer’s strong start, stating, “‘It could have 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 at his best in terms of his movement.’
Reflecting on his own performance, Djokovic added, “‘It was probably not the best mindset from me at the beginning of the match. I was looking at how he was moving. I dug my way back and it was important to win the first set. I relaxed a bit after that.’
With this victory, Djokovic sets sights on the final where he will face either Dominic Thiem or Alex Zverev on Sunday.
