By Lisa-Marie Burrows
Defending champion Novak Djokovic beat Spaniard David Ferrer in the Australian Open quarterfinals Wednesday 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 and revealed that during his straight sets victory, the world No.1 had experienced difficulties with his breathing.
Despite the straightforward score line, the match against the battling Spaniard was less than easy to begin with. The top seed was fending off a hamstring injury and his endurance levels during the match were questionable as he revealed his nose felt blocked and he struggled with oxygen
inhalation.
Set one showed the 24-year-olds tactics as he played aggressive from the onset against the retrieving ‘wall’ that is Ferrer and forced the 5th seed to play on the defensive. The Serb had six break point opportunities before finally breaking at 2-2 to gain a 3-2 lead and obtained the opening set 6-4.
The second set was more competitive as both players took the match to a vital tie-break, which would have guaranteed dominating Djokovic a two sets lead or allowed fighting Ferrer back into the match to level the competition one set apiece. It appeared that Ferrer had the physical edge in the tie-break leading 4-2 as Djokovic struggled with his movement due to a hamstring injury, but it was the world No.1 who had the mental edge as he fought back with five consecutive points to seize the second set.
The Australian Open champion proved to be unstoppable and avenged his defeat to Ferrer at the ATP World Tour Finals in London by taking the third set 6-1.
Djokovic will square off with Britain’s Andy Murray after he defeated Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. It will be a repeat of last year’s final in Melbourne, where the British No.1 lost in his third Grand Slam final. He will look once again to secure his place in the last two in hope of lifting his first major title.