I was less certain now of Novak's impregnability in so far as the overall title was concerned, having already been burned with my Serena selection. However, my confidence in his winning the quarter against an in form Ferrer had not wavered, even having seen him drop a set to Lleyton Hewitt. I felt for both players - the draw is ridiculous and offers no rewards to players seeded higher than others where it so obviously should. Novak is seeded one, and by a long way. At the quarter final stage, players seeded 1, 2, 3 and 4 will play those seeded 5, 6, 7 and 8. Logically, the highest of the top group should have the best advantage, and that is to play the lowest ranked of the second group. The same principle should apply throughout so that the match ups would be: 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5.
In the infinite lack of wisdom of those putting together the draw, we had 1 v 5 tonight. No reward to Ferrer for being the top ranked in the second group or for Djokovic being the top of the tops. This is neither new nor unique to the Aus Open - it is a blight perpetuated in every Grand Slam tournament and many other top events worldwide.
However, when the guys hit the court, none of that off court garbage mattered a bit, because both players were worthy quarter finalists and the winner a strong opponent for the already semi finalist Andy Murray.
In fact Andy would have plenty with which to be concerned when the winner of this was revealed. His tournament really only begins then.
The opening twenty minutes was telling - we managed to see three completed games and David Ferrer did extremely well to survive each of his two service games especially the first where he trailed 0-40. Some of the rallies were no doubt indicative of what we were to see for the entire match - accurate searching powerful ground strokes demanding concentration and fitness of the highest degree. A love game to Novak bucked the trend and maybe things would be a tad more proactive than reactive going forward.
Novak certainly made things interesting by mixing his shot choice and surprising Ferrer at times - the service break came and helped with a couple of scintillating lobs. Ferrer held in the seventh game to love, his first respite all night on serve. Still the advantage lay with the top seed 4-3, although his experiment with the drop shot has been a failure and his only blemish thus far. That and I guess his inability to convert break point opportunities.
Another quick pair of games which included no threat to the ball deliverer set Novak up to serve for the set at 5-4. This he did with no small amount of trouble. One attractive backhand was followed by an unfortunate looking forehand, you would swear coming from different lineage, yet actually born of the same tennis racquet. The set to Djokovic 6-4 sealed with a stunning backhand pass.
Ferrer began set two in the same manner as the start of the match, struggling to hold serve - only difference here he failed. Djokovic during this period of the match had turned up the heat, attempting to make the most of a good run of form. Ferrer held at his next try but not before Djokovic had cemented his break to prevent anyone tripping on it. Amid all the excellence from Novak was this constant and unhealthy preoccupation with the drop shot, an abject failure at each turn, and sure to ultimately cause scoreboard pain and not just a small prick to the ego.
Scoreboard pain arrived in the next game but only because of an all round poor service performance from Novak and now Ferrer felt back in the contest. At 2-3 Djokovic now had the hammer firmly pressed on him and he was not moving particularly well either. (hope that isn't symptomatic) For an inconvenienced player Novak amazingly played himself out of trouble with some ripping crosscourt and down the line winners to tie it up at 3-3.
Djokovic just seemed to go through the motions in the seventh game, losing it to love and games remained on serve Ferrer leading 4-3. No trainer called so Novak was working through this by himself for now. At 4-5 his biggest test of the night needing to hold to stay in the set.
Ferrer had won several free points with aces or unplayable serves in his last two journeys to the line. Novak needed some of the same right here.
A textbook service game to love put the onus back on Ferrer. And what a wonderful effort from Djokovic when he appeared to be struggling to stay with Ferrer. He now summoned the willpower and natural ability to break and afford himself the chance to take a two set lead.
The net and Ferrer conspired to stop the Djokovic charge and we had a tiebreak.
A tiebreak that belonged to Ferrer until 4-2, swung dramatically with Novak winning the final five points full of lavish ground strokes most of which finished superb rallies. Ferrer just had no answer to the tennis of the world's best who in this brief cameo gave yet more evidence why he is at the top of the tree. Djokovic leading 6-4 7-6
Mentally that second set may have hurt Ferrer more than any physical toll taken on him. Novak had two sets plus immeasurable adrenalin on his side to begin the third set, and he did not mess around, serving beautifully to lead and then working studiously to crack open the wound that he had inflicted on Ferrer by winning the tiebreak. A straightforward service game and quickly it said 3-0. Just the single break but when 0-30 appeared next to the game score, signs were far from good for the Spanish 5th seed.
That drama traversed without damage, Novak insisted on maintaining his firm grip around David's neck with a standard form game from his end of the court to lead 4-1. More Serb magic made Ferrer seem tired, and Novak just put the ball wherever he wished breaking again for 5-1.
The glorious procession ended with an ace.
Djokovic 6-4 7-6 6-1 and to meet Andy Murray again this year but one match earlier.
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