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Djokovic Finishes Federer's Finals Run

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By JOHN PYE, The Associated Press

Published: January 26, 2008

MELBOURNE, Australia - Roger Federer is the first to admit he pays a steep price for all his success. One by one, players try to knock him off, and with each match and each victory, expectations grow.

"Of course, I've created a monster," he said. "So I know I need to always win every tournament."

For one rare night, the monster was tamed.

Federer lost to Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5) Friday in the Australian Open semifinals, leaving the top-ranked Swiss one match short of making an 11th consecutive Grand Slam final.

"Winning every other week, you know, lose a set and people say I'm playing bad," Federer said. "So it's my own mistake, I guess."

Djokovic will now play unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Sunday, setting up one unlikely title match.

Djokovic was 1-6 against Federer going into the match, losing most recently in the U.S. Open final. Federer was in his 15th straight Grand Slam semifinal.

"I am just very amazed I coped with the pressure today," Djokovic said. "In the most important moments, I played my best tennis. It's just amazing, indescribable, to beat the No. 1 player of the world, one of the best players this sport has ever had, in straight sets."

The Serb, seeded third, will be a big favorite Sunday after making the semifinals at four straight majors and having been to the U.S. Open final. Tsonga, whose looks have been likened to Muhammad Ali's and his game with Yannick Noah's, is in his fifth Grand Slam and past the fourth round for the first time.

Djokovic said he drew on his experience in his U.S. Open final loss to Federer, knowing the pressure was mounting on his rival after such an imperious run.

"As one of the top players in the world, you always have a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure on your back," said Djokovic, 20. "He's a special case because he's expected to win everywhere he goes on any surface."

Federer had the chance to serve for the first set at 5-3, but missed. His missed some touch volleys and he missed some forehands that usually are his trademark.

Djokovic broke twice to win that set and twice more to get to 5-1 in the second in an 11-game sequence that changed the match.

Federer had been seeking his third consecutive Australian title.

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