Australia Open Thursday action preview: Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will be playing each other for the 50th time when they meet in the semifinals at Melbourne Park. It’s a blockbuster matchup between two men with a combined 36 Grand Slam trophies (Federer has a record 20, Djokovic 16), 13 Australian Open championships (Federer has six, Djokovic a record seven) 180 singles titles overall (Federer has 103, Djokovic 77) and 10 year-end No. 1 finishes in the ATP rankings (five apiece). Djokovic leads the head-to-head series 26-23, with five in a row in matches at the majors, including their most recent meeting — in last year’s Wimbledon final, where he saved two match points to beat Federer in a fifth-set tiebreaker. So why hasn’t Federer managed to win a Grand Slam match against Djokovic in eight years? Djokovic himself said he wasn’t sure. “I know that whenever we get a chance to play each other, we understand it takes a big effort and it’s required from us to come up with the best game in order to win against each other,” Djokovic said. “Roger is Roger. You know that he’s always going to play on such a high level, regardless of the surface. He loves to play these kind of matches, big rivalries, semis, finals of Grand Slams.” One key this time could be how Federer feels after dealing with a painful groin muscle while saving seven match points during a five-set quarterfinal win. While the other men’s semifinal is not until Friday, both women’s semis are Thursday: No. 1 Ash Barty vs. No. 14 Sofia Kenin, and No. 4 Simona Halep vs. unseeded Garbine Muguruza. With AP inputs
Australian Open 2020, Semifinals, Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic Highlights: Djokovic beats Federer in straight sets; Kenin vs Muguruza in women's final
Follow all the action from Australian Open 2020 semi-finals on our live blog here from Day 11 at Melbourne Park.
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The juggernaut!
Novak Djokovic at #AusOpen remains a constant in this crazy world.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 30, 2020
Into his EIGHTH final here with a 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-3 win over Federer.
ND's 7-0 in those previous seven finals.
Awaits the winner of the kindergarten match between Dominic Thiem and Sascha Zverev tomorrow night.
Thank you Federer for everything you did tonight!
It's always a pleasure, @rogerfederer.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2020
We hope to see you back next year 👋#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/2Q52u4rkxC
He’s unstoppable!
🇷🇸 U-N-S-T-O-P-P-A-B-L-E 🇷🇸@DjokerNole def. Roger Federer for the 27th time 7-6(1) 6-4 6-3 to earn the chance to play for his 8️⃣th #AusOpen title 🏆#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/Hy7lu8AIHo
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2020
Novak Djokovic beats Federer to reach Australian Open final
GAME, SET, MATCH. The defending champion beats Federer 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-3 in the first men’s singles final. Federer made incredible comebacks in the last two matches but this was always going to be a big ask. Federer was hurting already still fought hard but Djokovic was too good on the night. He has always been good at Melbourne.
3rd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-4, 5-3 Federer* (* denotes server)
Federer comes out aggressively in the game, attacking by coming forward to the net and holds to 30. Still, Djokovic is just one game away from the win.
3rd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 6-4, 5-2 Federer (* denotes server)
Federer fought hard. The veteran used the surprise trick of sneaking to the net to attack and won two points but that was it as Djokovic kept his composure to hold to 30. The serbian is now just one game away from win.
3rd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-4, 4-2 Federer* (* denotes server)
Djokovic breaks! This is a big game win for the Serbian. And he won the game with a beautiful looping forehand that was kept wide from Federer as the veteran gasped.
3rd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-2 Federer (* denotes server)
The Serbian holds again. Both the players have been very good on their serve, Djokovic lost the first point on his serve but then accumulated four straight ones to hold.
3rd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-4, 2-2 Federer* (* denotes server)
Federer holds to love, thanks to lovely serves which were laced with aces. In fact he produced three back-to-back aces to hold.
3rd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 6-4, 2-1 Federer (* denotes server)
Djokovic holds to 30. He starts off well and takes two points before Federer makes a comeback but he couldn’t continue as an ace does the job for Serbian.
3rd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 6-4, 1-1 Federer* (* denotes server)
Djokovic’s tempo has dipped a bit but he still makes it 30-all with Federer making a double fault but then Federer holds on to the serve with two quick points.
Djokovic is all pupmed up!
Djokovic (🎥@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/QoHO4n7JgJ
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) January 30, 2020
3rd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 6-4, 1-0 Federer (* denotes server)
The Serbian is serving for the match and holds to the first one.
Djokovic wins the second set
Federer’s was serving to stay in the set but Djokovic had the last laugh as he broke the service and took the set 6-4. 30-all, deuce, Federer kept fighting but Djokovic produced a brilliant return winner for set point. Two sets to love now.
2nd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 5-4 Federer (* denotes server)
Federer has been playing a risky game by attacking a lot but now he has multiplied it by standing much higher up to face the serves. Still that was not much of an issue for Djokovic as he holds his serve to 15.
2nd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 4-4 Federer* (* denotes server)
Almost a perfect game for Federer as he holds and that is his greatness. Even though he is not at his best he continues to fight on. He holds to love with aces and by forcing Djokovic to make errors.
2nd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 4-3 Federer (* denotes server)
The Serbian holds again! Federer made a good start by taking a point on his opponents’ serve but Djokovic then collects all the points quickly to hold his serve.
2nd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 3-3 Federer* (* denotes server)
Federer holds! It looked unlikely after Djokovic earned the break point with Swiss also making a double fault in the game but the Serbian squanders the advantage with a long shot and Federer holds.
2nd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 3-2 Federer (* denotes server)
Unforced errors on forehand and backhand by Federer helps Djokovic race to 30-0 lead but then the Swiss brings out a lovely forehand winner with Djokovic going for the backhand line. Djokovic holds with an ace as Federer pushes the last shot long.
2nd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 2-2 Federer* (* denotes server)
Federer starts off well with two back-to-back aces to go 30-0 up, another sneak attack to net forces Djokovic to go wide for 15-40. The Swiss holds with a strong one-two punch. Good game this for Federer.
2nd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 2-1 Federer (* denotes server)
Smash, smash, smash and Djokovic holds his serve to love. The pressure is back on Federer as the Serbian continues his onslaught.
2nd set: Djokovic 7-6(1), 1-1 Federer* (* denotes server)
Federer on his own serve gives away two break points befor reaching to deuce. And then holds onto his own serve as Djokovic’s forehand goes long.
2nd set: Djokovic* 7-6(1), 1-0 Federer (* denotes server)
Djokovic gets the second set underway! He holds very quickly with Federer committing a lot of backhand errors. The Serbian finishes the game with a wide forehand.
First set goes to Djokovic
Djokovic takes the first set 7-6(1). Can you believe it? Federer was up 4-1, 4-0 and yet has lost the first set in 62 minutes.
Tie-break
Federer* 6-6 (1-6) Djokovic
Federer hit a powerful winner to get his first point but that was it for him as Djokovic forces him to net and takes a point on serve
Tie-break
Federer* 6-6 (0-3) Djokovic
Federer misses the down the line volley from Djokovic after the Serbian hits a beautiful backhand winner
1st set: Federer 6-6 Djokovic (* denotes server)*
A beautiful backhand shot which hugged the line from Federer for 15-15 but the next cross court shot is long as Djokovic goes 30-15 up. Federer pulls one point back but two back-to-back aces from Djokovic means we will have tie-break.
1st set: Federer* 6-5 Djokovic (* denotes server)
Federer holds! He was behind, giving away two break points to Djokovic but to his credit Federer cameback thanks to his excellent backhand shots. One of them was dropped gently in front of Djokovic.
1st set: Federer 5-5 Djokovic* (* denotes server)
Djokovic holds now to make it 5-5. Federer is making a lot of unforced errors and the Serbian takes full advantage of it. He has won three straight games now.
1st set: Federer* 5-4 Djokovic (* denotes server)
Djokovic breaks! He has found his rhythm, making Federer run across the court with wide range of shots. The Serbian races to three break points and then wins the game.
1st set: Federer 5-3 Djokovic* (* denotes server)
Good effort by Djokovic to stay with Federer as the Serbian holds. He was serving with new balls but Federer went up early before Djokovic pulled back, went to deuce and then converted the advantage.
1st set: Federer* 5-2 Djokovic (* denotes server)
A love hold for Federer. He is hitting aces for fun, seven so far in this match, Djokovic now needs to hold to stop Swiss from winning the set.
1st set: Federer 4-2 Djokovic* (* denotes server)
Double fault for Djokovic to start off before unforced errors gave Federer three break points. The Serbian makes a return from there. A good serve forces Federer to play long followed by an ace and one more point taking Djokovic to deuce. Advantage for Federer who surrenders it and Djokovic pounces on the next one to hold.
1st set: Federer* 4-1 Djokovic (* denotes server)
Djokovic makes a good start on Federer’s serve but then two big serves helps the Swiss take 30-15 lead. Federer messes up his next shot but closes out the game with an ace.
1st set: Federer 3-1 Djokovic* (* denotes server)
Another poor serving game for Djokovic. He raced to 40-15 lead but Federer gets to deuce, finds the break point. Djokovic survives but could not resist for long as Federer makes it 3-1 in his favour.
1st set: Federer* 2-1 Djokovic (* denotes server)
Djokovic hits straight back! Breaks Federer to 30 immediately and it was very important for him to find his footing soon in the match. Although him breaking Federer did not excite the crowd. Federer way too much popular.


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