Sublime Novak Djokovic survives Roger Federer challenge to reach sixth Australian Open final

• Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 to reach his sixth Australian Open final
• Djokovic will face Andy Murray or Milos Raonic in the 2016 Australian Open final on Sunday

Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in an uneven but thrilling encounter to reach his sixth Australian Open final on Thursday.

Djokovic will face Andy Murray or Milos Raonic in Sunday’s Australian Open men’s singles final, with Murray and Raonic due to face off in the second semifinal on Friday morning.

The 6–1, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 victory for Djokovic means that for the first time in his career, the Serb enjoys a winning record against all three of his biggest rivals: 21–9 against Murray, 24–23 against Rafael Nadal and now 23–22 against Federer.

Federer came into the match in superb form after dropping just the one set through the first five rounds, while Djokovic had looked less than convincing at times, most notably a five-set struggle with Gilles Simon in the fourth round during which he committed 100 unforced errors.

But just as he had in the Wimbledon and US Open finals in 2015, Djokovic raised his level with Federer across the net from him. The first two sets were a supreme display of brilliance from the undisputed king of men’s tennis, who played some of the most magnificent tennis of his glittering career to thoroughly dominate the opening stages of the match. Federer won the coin toss but elected to receive, an odd decision which looked downright suicidal as Djokovic opened the match by slamming down an ace and won 12 of the first 14 points of the match, including threading a forehand down the line straight through the middle of a space one would have sworn didn’t exist, to lead 3–0.

It took just 22 minutes for Djokovic to claim a set so perfect it should be framed and displayed in museums as a work of art, and although Federer dug out a hold from deuce to open the second set, there was no sign of a change in momentum as Djokovic promptly broke to love in the third game and cruised to a 4–1 lead.

The Rod Laver Arena crowd, firmly in the camp of the 17-time Grand Slam champion, started desperately trying to lift Federer as Djokovic established a 6–1, 6–2 lead and the Swiss star dug in as Djokovic’s level began to slide back down from the superhuman to the merely incredibly good. A superb volley set up break point for Djokovic at 2–2, but Federer saved it to enter the fifth game of the third set with a slight lead in the scoreline.

It proved to be the pivotal game of the match, in many ways. Rock solid at the net, Federer earned three break points but Djokovic saved the first with a big serve and the world no. 3 over-pressed on consecutive forehands as the game lengthened. After five deuces and with the game approaching ten minutes, Federer finally got the break to lead 4–2 and the Rod Laver Arena, predictably, ignited. A superb forehand winner down the line helped Federer to lead 5–2 and although Djokovic saved two set points — the first with a cross-court forehand Federer could only reach with the tip of his racquet frame, the second when he correctly challenged what Federer thought was an ace — Federer took the third to send the match into a fourth set.

After a brief delay while the roof over Rod Laver Arena was closed due to an impending storm, much to Federer’s displeasure, the match resumed with both players trying to get used to the different conditions. Djokovic played probably his poorest tennis of the match early in the fourth set, but Federer couldn’t consolidate: He earned 0–30 as Djokovic served to open the set, only to miss three consecutive returns on second serves, causing wife Mirka to bury her face in her hands in the stands. Both men put in some poor misses, but it was Federer who looked more energized as he held for 3–3.

It was too much to expect that Djokovic wouldn’t come back, however, and as the fourth set reached its climactic stages, that’s exactly what did happen. With Federer serving at 3–4, Djokovic landed a passing-shot winner on the run which recalled the magic of the first two sets and then another for 0–30. Federer responded by winning the next point, then leveling up at 30–30 after one of the most fantastic points of men’s tennis you will ever see ended with a superb backhand winner down the line, surely a shot that deserves a place among a highlight reel of the great man’s career.

It was the best point of the match, of the tournament so far — and it was the last Federer would win. An unlucky bounce off the net cord went Djokovic’s way to set up break point, then Federer missed a first serve and Djokovic needed no second invitation, absolutely crushing Federer’s subsequent delivery as the Swiss player tried to serve and volley to go up 5–3. He reeled off four straight points to close out the four-set victory and secure his place in a fifth straight Grand Slam final.

It’s not often that it’s Federer’s competitive grit that stands out from one of his performances, but it was the highlight today for his fans as he fought back superbly after a demoralizing first two sets to take it a fourth. He missed some major opportunities early in the fourth set, however, and when it came to the crunch it was Djokovic who was the clinical closer, marrying steely determination with just enough of a revival of the sublime tennis he had played earlier in the match to prove once again that while Federer might be his biggest rival outside of the Grand Slams, when they meet at a major there is only going to be one winner.