The past 24 hours in Melbourne have been stunning to say the least. One day after Rafael Nadal (pictured below) lost in the quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic (pictured left) defeated defending Australian Open champion Roger Federer in straight sets 7-6(3) 7-5 6-4. This year will be the first time since the 2008 Australian Open that Federer or Nadal will be in a grand slam final. The last time Federer lost in straight sets at the Australian Open was to Novak Djokovic three years ago. Djokovic’s only grand slam title came three years ago at this same event when he beat Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in the final. The turning point of the match came when Federer was up 5-2 in the second set, and Djokovic was able to come back and level the set at 5 games all. Novak took that momentum to carry him to take a two-sets-to-none lead over Federer.
Federer has now lost to Djokovic in two consecutive grand slam semifinal events, but still leads 13-7 in their head to head matchup. Novak really stepped up his game today, and he did not let Federer get comfortable in the match. Federer has now lost in four consecutive grand slam events before the finals. Federer now has to ponder if his goal of 20 major titles is achievable. Going into the Australian Open, Roger felt he was playing some of his best tennis he ever played. Going back to last season he had not lost a match since the Paris Indoor Masters event. Federer started to develop hiccups in his game during matches against Gilles Simon and Tommy Robredo. Roger bounced back nicely in his quarterfinal match against Stanislas Wawrinka. Nothing in Federer’s game bothered Novak in their semifinals contest. Djokovic will now have a shot to win his second Australian Open title.
Rafael Nadal’s quest to win four consecutive major events is now over. Dubbed the “Rafa Slam”, Nadal was looking to become the first person since Rod Laver to hold all four majors at once. That ended with a loss to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer (pictured below) in the quarter finals. Nadal appeared to injure his hamstring early in the first set. He was not the same player after the injury. That is to take nothing away from Ferrer, who brought it to Nadal early. After the match, Ferrer had some concern for Nadal and his injury. The Spanish press is reporting Nadal has a torn thigh muscle.
Nadal has been plagued by injury over the last two years. Nadal had to retire from his match against Andy Murray during last year’s Australian Open. Injury has derailed Nadal again and hopefully he can bounce back stronger than ever. Nadal’s health has always been a factor because of the style of tennis he plays. Nadal teared up during a medical timeout in the third set. Will this injury sideline Nadal for a long period of time this season, because he was the clear number one player coming into the season?
With Federer and Nadal out of the tournament, the question is who will take home the title this year. Djokovic has a shot, but what about Andy Murray? Scotland’s Andy Murray faces David Ferrer in the semifinals tonight, and he is looking to end Britain’s drought. No man from Great Britain has won a major since Fred Perry in 1936. Murray has a shot if he gets past Ferrer. The men’s final is set for Sunday night in Melbourne.
Has the dominant era of Federer and Nadal finally come to an end? Only the rest of the tennis season will tell.