January 22, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Even after top-seeded Novak Djokovic’s five-plus-hour marathon match against Stanislas Wawrinka, the world number one showed no signs of any lasting fatigue to overcome Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Tuesday and advance to the Australian Open semifinals. Djokovic, bidding to become the first man to win three successive Australian Open titles since the game went professional.
Djokovic set up a semifinal match with Spain’s David Ferrer, as he downed fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-2. Ferrer had won all 12 of his previous matches with Almagro, who was bidding for his first Grand slam semi-final, but was staring defeat in the face as his opponent served for the match once in the third set and twice in the fourth.
"It was a miracle I won this match," Ferrer said. "I tried to fight and do my best but I need to play better than today in the next round. I think maybe this time I was very close to losing, but I am positive. I am in the semifinal."
