Number-one-ranked Novak Djokovic continued his advance towards the finals of the Australian Open, beating fifth-ranked David Ferrer in straight sets, 6–4, 7(7)–6(4), 6–1. The final set saw the 24-year-old Serb looking his best, but the first two sets were struggles.
David Ferrer is known as an accurate but not hard hitter with great legs, and the 29-year-old Spaniard used both skills fully, running his opponent all over the court through the first two sets.
The first set was close all the way to the end; every point was long, and both players wore themselves out. Djokovic was hitting fifty percent of his first serves, giving Ferrer a huge edge, but the lanky Serb still managed a break and the set win, thought it took 58 minutes.
Djokovic got an early break in the second set, but in the fifth he stretched wide for a return and came up grimacing and grabbing the back of his right thigh.
