January 24, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Two-time defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic advanced to his third consecutive final Down Under with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 win over the fourth-seeded David Ferrer. Djokovic was in dominating form, hitting 30 crisp winners in the one-hour and 29-minute match. He is aiming to be the first man in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian titles. Djokovic will await the winner of the semifinal between second-ranked Roger Federer, a four-time Australian champion, and third-ranked Andy Murray.
"It can only do positive things to my confidence. Definitely at this stage of a tournament, playing semifinals against the world number four, somebody that I have respect for, great competitor, and being able to perform as well as I did, it’s incredible," said Djokovic. "I have a great feeling about myself on the court at this moment. Now I have a two days off before the finals which gives me enough time to get ready and recover."
Djokovic, who remains unbeaten in five Grand Slam head-to-heads with Ferrer, allowed his opponent only four points in the first four games of the last set to upend any chance of a comeback.
”I prefer to play worse in a semifinal than in the first round,” Ferrer said. ”Of course, I am not happy with my game tonight, but this is tennis.”
