Is this the beginning of the Novak Djokovic era in tennis?
Roger Federer has reached the finals of 14 grand slam tournaments in his career (winning 12) and yet I don't recall him peeling his shirt off after any of them. The adorable Novak Djokovic did just that earlier today after he beat top-ranked Federer in the semifinals of the Australian Open in straight sets.
My pal Henry and I love Federer and always want him to win but there is something so appealing about this 20-year-old Serbian who is so talented on the court and charming off of it. He's so good for the sport. He lost his first slam final last September to Federer at the US Open so you sensed there might be some revenge since Roger has not been at his best in Australia.
Still, Roger had reached 10 straight Grand Slam finals, and won 19 matches in a row at Melbourne Park. So his 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (5) loss is a big deal. It means that for the first time in THREE YEARS, someone other than Federer and second-ranked Rafael Nadal will win one of tennis' big tournaments. "I've created a monster that I need to win every tournament," Federer said after the match. "Still, the semifinals isn't bad."
Djokovic was emotional post-win: "I am just very amazed I coped with the pressure today," the 20-year-old 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."
Djokovic will face unseeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Nadal in the other semifinal, in the final Sunday.
Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily
News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession
with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen
at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never
seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.