Novak Djokovic booked a final showdown with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after a stunning 7-5 6-3 7-6 straight sets win over Roger Federer.
Serbian sets up final clash with Tsonga after straight sets win
Novak Djokovic produced a stunning performance to beat top seed Roger Federer in straights sets and set up an Australian Open final showdown with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
A break to the good, Federer was serving for the first set at 5-4, but Djokovic reeled off three games in a row to take it 7-5 and never looked back as he went on to record a 7-5 6-3 7-6 victory.
Federer did threaten a comeback in the third set but, despite a couple of opportunities, could not force the all-important break.
As a result it headed into a tie-break where Djokovic produced some clinical serving to overturn an early mini-break and edge ahead 6-5 forcing his first match-point.
He then closed out the match at the first time of asking with Federer's fate sealed when he found the net with a forehand.
The Serbian was full value for his triumph and has still to drop a set in this year's tournament ahead of Sunday's final with Tsonga.
However, there was no sign his progress against Federer would prove so straightforward in a first set that the Swiss world number one appeared to have in the bag.
With the opening six games having gone on serve, Federer made his move in the seventh as he forced a break with an accurate backhand that Djokovic could not quite squeeze back into court.
With the next two games going on serve, Federer stepped up to close out the set but came up with a couple of uncharacteristically loose errors as Djokovic forced his way back on terms.
Crucial first set
Having held to move 6-5 ahead, the Serb then pinched the set on Federer's serve as the world number one sent a backhand long on break point.
Buoyed by forging ahead, Djokovic began to open up in the second set with, by contrast, more and more errors creeping into his opponent's game.
Indeed, the third seed raced two breaks ahead and found himself serving for the set at 5-1.
Federer did rally to claim one back, but at the second time of asking, after surviving another slight scare, Djokovic pressed home his advantage to move two sets ahead.
Staring defeat in the face Federer knew he had to step up his game and did so in the third set with his forehand increasingly to the fore.
But, despite making few inroads on the Federer serve, Djokovic remained resolute on his own delivery and fought tenaciously to ensure he kept pace with the Swiss.
Having seen off a couple of break points, the Serb took the set into a tie-break but fell an early mini-break behind to trail 2-1.
He claimed it back and, producing big first-serves exactly when he needed them, kept his nose in front to lead 6-5.
With a tension palpable it was Federer who cracked first, his forehand error ensuring he will not be present in a Grand Slam final for the first time since the 2005 French Open.
