Djokovic, Federer set for blockbuster semi-final

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer face off in a blockbuster semi-final on Thursday in their 45th career meeting, while Serena Williams zeroes in on her seventh Australian Open decider.
The two giants of the men's game have an intense rivalry which is delicately poised, with each beating the other 22 times.

But Djokovic has the clear edge after an astonishing 2015 season in which he fell only one win short of a calendar-year Grand Slam.

"Any round (against Federer) feels like a final because of the fact that we are big rivals," Djokovic, who is angling for a sixth Australian title, said ahead of the night match on Rod Laver Arena.

"We have played so many times against each other. There's a lot of tension. There's a lot at stake. I'm expecting a great fight."

Federer is 34 but remains at the top of his game and is desperate to add to his 17 Grand Slam titles, an achievement he still thinks is possible.

"It's part of the reason why I'm still playing. I feel like I'm competitive at the top," he said.

Williams is of the same vintage as Federer and also continues handing lessons to younger players.

She is only two wins away from matching Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles, with fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska her next hurdle.

"She presents a completely different game, an extremely exciting game," Williams said of the Pole, who is on a 13-match win streak.

"So I think it will be a long match and it will be a good match to see where I am."

Whoever wins that duel will face either Germany's seventh seed Angelique Kerber or unseeded British surprise package Johanna Konta in Saturday's decider.

Neither of them have made a Grand Slam final before and both are keen to enjoy the occasion.

"I'm going to go out there, really enjoy it and enjoy the battle and hopefully, play a good level and give the crowd a good match," said Konta, the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final for 33 years.
Source: AFP