Djokovic’s quick disposal of Ferrer serves notice
Rested reigning champ getting better each match
MELBOURNE— Novak Djokovic is one win away from his third successive Australian Open title after demolishing David Ferrer with a performance that he described as “among the best of my career.”
Having edged past Stan Wawrinka in the tightest of fourth-round matches, Djokovic seems only to have gained inspiration from his narrow escape. He was too strong for Tomas Berdych in the quarter-final, and yesterday he switched into his most ruthless, free-swinging mode to dispatch Ferrer in just 89 minutes, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
It was a far cry from last year’s semifinal, when Djokovic and Andy Murray slugged it out for nearly five hours before the world No. 1 prevailed. This time, the gulf in class between the “Big Four” and the best of the rest was written all over the court, as Ferrer buckled under a succession of blazing winners.
With every season and every training block, the big names seem to add extra refinements to their games and so move further ahead of the competition.
While a second tier of players has emerged, featuring Ferrer, along with Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro, it is still rare for one of these to reach a grand-slam semifinal when all four leading men are fit. As Ferrer said after the match: “I am trying to do my best every match. But I know they (the top four) are better than me. What can I do?”
Perhaps a little less humility might be a start. Out of this “B” group, Tsonga seems to have the most confidence in his ability to break up the cartel.
Which may help to explain why he was only a few points away from upsetting Roger Federer on Wednesday, before finally going down in five sets.
Djokovic now has two full days off to recover before Sunday night’s final. He might have spent more time on the court, 14 hours and 35 minutes, than either Federer or Murray, but this blowout ensures there is no danger of carrying any weariness into the match.
“This can only do positive things to my confidence,” said Djokovic afterwards. “When you reach this stage of a tournament, playing semifinals against the world No. 4 and somebody that I have respect for, being able to perform as well as I did is incredible.
“I definitely prefer being fitter for the final and having a little bit more time than I had in 2012.
“Last year, I played five hours in semis and had only a day-and-a-half to recover for another six hours with Nadal. But right now I feel great on the court.”