Can ageless Federer finally smash Djokovic roadblock in pursuit of historic 18th Grand Slam?
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Updated 26/01/2016 at 15:08 GMT
In-depth: Roger Federer appears to be finding peak form at the right time after reaching the Australian Open semi-finals with a straight sets win over Tomas Berdych. How far is the majestic Swiss player away from lifting his first Grand Slam trophy since Wimbledon in 2012?
Switzerland's Roger Federer signs autographs after winning his quarter-final match against Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 26, 2016.
Image credit: Eurosport
The artful Roger enjoys best performance of tournament
Federer and Berdych played out an exacting first set, which the Swiss world number three snared in the tie-breaker before progressing to maul Berdych 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-2, stomping all over his Czech opponent's second serve as he did so. By the end of the match, Berdych was just happy to get off the court.
Next up for Federer is the ultimate challenge in confronting Novak Djokovic, the man who denied him in the finals of both Wimbledon and the US Open last season. He was arguably more impressive in reaching the semi-finals after an imperious 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Kei Nishikori before a drooling Rod Laver Arena.
Federer confident he can claim an 18th Grand Slam
It's part of the reason why I guess I'm still playing. I feel like I'm competitive at the top. I can beat all the guys on tour. It's nice now that in the last three slams that I've been as consistent as I have been."
Should Federer be content with his form?
Very much so. He enjoyed five breaks of serve and revelled in 48 winners making 26 unforced errors. Since losing to the winner Stanislas Wawrinka in the last eight of the French Open on clay last May, Federer has only lost to Djokovic in the world's top 10.
In Australia he has dropped only one set on his way to the last four, to Grigor Dimitrov in the third round. He is giving off a youthful bounce that belies his 34 years; little wonder, given that several of his service games lasted barely a minute against Berdych, and that he converted 24 out of 29 net approaches into winners.
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Switzerland's Roger Federer smiles as he talks to former tennis player Jim Courier during an interview after winning his quarter-final match against Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open
Image credit: Reuters
I still think there's room for improvement. Every player manages to defend or pass it differently. The question is, do you come in off a low ball because you're being dragged in, or are you coming in on your terms? You would assume that these are not stats you can keep up. It's okay. As long as you're coming in on the right plays, it's okay to be beat.
Was Berdych impressed by Federer's 'gold standard'?
Stopping short of predicting a fifth title at Melbourne Park for the great man, Berdych extolled the benefits of Federer's aggressive attacking strategy in keeping points short.
I think he's still on a pretty high level, playing great tennis. He's just proving how great a player he is, how difficult at this time it is to play him. He was playing really, really aggressive, without any mistakes, without any unforced errors. That's the way that he needs to play."
Will his best be good enough to knock down the roadblock that is Djokovic?
That is the question that Federer would love to find an answer to. It has been an unsolved conundrum so late in his career, and one that has certainly deprived him off passing the 20 mark in major titles having lost to Djokovic in three finals since 2012. The semi-final win against Djokovic at Wimbledon back in 2012 is the last time Federer has beaten Djokovic at a slam. He has not overcome the Serb in a major final since 2007.
He knows he can't disturb Djokovic from deep. The answer must lie in keeping points short, serving potently, keeping Djokovic off balance and mixing it up as much as possible. That may not be enough against such a flexible figure, but the road to riches does not begin in hanging on the baseline.
Federer's aggression in going for lines and taking the ball as early as possible is a high-risk strategy that must come off to prevail. In 44 matches in their career, the pair are locked on 22 each. Of their eight meetings last season, seven were in finals with Djokovic winning five of them to Federer's three. Federer is giving six years away to Djokovic, but it is his opponent's ability to win key points that alter matches that is of the main concern to Federer in dealing with his form of tennis kryptonite.
Prediction
Federer is attempting to become the third oldest winner of a Grand Slam, but Djokovic desperately wants an 11th Slam and will probably prevail in four.
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