Djokovic to meet Federer in Australian Open semi final

Tennis

Novak Djokovic has moved to his first Australian Open semi-final since winning the 2008 edition of the tournament, with a three set victory over sixth seed Tomas Berdych.

Despite some eye issues evident in the second set, the world number three won the match in straight sets, 6-1 7-6 6-1, and will meet world number two Roger Federer in the first semi-final in two days time.

Djokovic came out with a dominant display of serving in the first set, taking 88% of points when his first serve went in, compared to the unusually low score of 64% from his taller, more aggressive, opponent.

The Djokovic serve was the driving force of the match, particularly in the first set. Whenever the first serve went in, the Serbian was in full control of proceedings.

But the dominant on-serve display wasn't to last when a troubled Djokovic began blinking in obvious pain from his contact lenses during the following set.

The '08 champion soon found himself down 4-1, before finally calling to his bench for lens fluid. It worked wonders, helping Djokovic back to a 4-all scoreline.

Although Berdych hit more winners than Djokovic in the second set, his lack of serve control continued to let him down and keep his opponent in the match, eventually leading to a tiebreaker.

Through some tough baseline rallies, the Serbian emerged victorious from the tiebreak, 7-5.

Up 2-1 in the second set, on the Berdych serve, Djokovic pulled off two impressive cross-court forehands to take the break of serve, and used the unexpected momentum to take the match away from Berdych point by point.

He won all the following games to take the last set in the same fashion as the first, 6-1.

Djokovic clearly wasn't pleased with the entirety of his matchplay, but recognised how to find his way past the Czech.

"He hits hard, and serves hard," said Djokovic. "I needed some variety."

On the lens issue? "I sometimes have problems with the lens" he joked. "It gets dry sometimes."

The 3rd seed will need all his sight in check if he is to overcome defending champion Federer in the semi final, who cruised past his fellow countryman, Stanislaus Wawrinka, in straight sets earlier today.