Novak Djokovic was able to grind out a result against Giles Simon on the 24th despite making 100 unforced errors. That’s right 100! The Serb is used to making less than that in a whole tournament, so it was no surprise that he was pleased to simply get through.
‘’He was playing well, physically it was very demanding and I’m just happy to get through this one’’. Said the world No.1, who eventually won the tie 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 4-6 6-3 in a marathon four hours and 32 minutes. He is still Bookmakers tip to win the slam, after winning his quarter final too, but will need to reach top form to overcome semi-finals opponent Rodger Federer.
Despite the overwhelming number of errors made, surprisingly it is not the most. Yevgney Kafelinkov managed 112 in the defeat of Fernando Vincente at the 2000 French Open.!
Djokovic had to withstand some heckling from the crowd after being forced to attempt too many drop shots. A crowd member attempted to give the Serbian some worldly advice. ‘’No more drop shots!’’ Djokovic took the criticism in good faith, admitting his critic was ‘absolutely right’.
The former Australian open championed equalled Jimmy Connors’ career record of 33 consecutive quarter finals with the win. With the tournament reaching its final stages, there is always one game that the eventual champion simply has to just ‘overcome’ and this could be Novak’s.
His next performance showed this, it was a destructive performance against Kei Nishikori. He won in straight sets 6-3 6-2 6-4 and waltzed into the semi-final in the process.
Semi-finals opponent Federer has been defying all the odds and although 34 years-old, the veteran has been playing like someone in his twenties. The Swiss managed to reach a record 36th consecutive quarter-final and will certainly give Djokovic a run for his money. He comfortably saw off David Goffin in scintillating form, losing only 15 points on serve.
There is no doubt that the draw has been kinder to Great Britain’s Andy Murray. With the decline of former champion Rafael Nadal, which saw the Spaniard go out in the first round, the scot has had a relatively smooth run into the quarter final. He will be pitching up against David Ferrer in his next encounter.
The world No.2 was able to dispatch Australian Bernard Tomic with relative ease winning 6-4 6-4 7-7 (7-4). The victory came just 48 hours after his father-in-law was rushed to hospital and despite the score line Murray didn’t believe he was at his best. ‘’Bernard fought right to the end and made it very tough for me, but I was just able to make a few more balls’’
With so much left to play for and the tournament reaching its final stages will Federer keep on going, or can he claim one more title and eventually hang up his racket.
Djokovic has shown that despite the amount of errors that his matchup against Gilles Simon was just a hiccup and that if he hopes to win another Australian Open you have to go through these. He will be hoping though, that this was the only one along the way.
