In a stunner at the Australian Open men's semifinal, Novak Djokovic has beaten Roger Federer in straight sets.
Showing a wealth of talent and a steely resolve, Djokovic was the better player throughout, beating the two-time defending champion 7-5, 6-3, 7-6.
Did Federer look past Djokovic? Maybe. After Djokovic said yesterday that Federer is "beatable," Federer seemed unimpressed by the youngster, responding, "Heard it before and don't read it anymore. It's the same thing over and over again.''
But the 20-year-old Djokovic isn't the same thing. He may be the next big thing in tennis. By dominating Federer today, he would sure seem to be. He has certainly set the tone for the 2008 tennis season.
For the first time in three years, Federer is not in the final of a Grand Slam. And for the first time in at least that long, there's a real question about whether Federer still dominates the sport.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-25-2008 @ 6:59AM
sajad said...
yes surely the era of federar's supremacy is over.it can be seen that he is as vulnerable as any other player..we saw federer struggling in second round itself...he never showed determination in this tour..and thats why he lost...players have also come off age...ie the likes of federer and Nadal both have been ousted from Australian open...it offers us great matches ahead and new players emerge...
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1-25-2008 @ 7:09AM
AJ said...
Ever since djokovic beeat federer in the us open series match, i knew the end of federer was coming. i hav been rooting for djokovic and knew he could beat him.
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1-25-2008 @ 7:36AM
AM said...
this is a comment to aj - please i hope that you are more intelligent than that comment " the end of federer is comming" why dont you wait until the us open before you make stupid comments like that everybody has a bad match do you remember the last time they played i believe that federer won , as close as it may have been federer still won and he will beat him the next time they play and if you would like i will BET you on that one
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1-25-2008 @ 8:59AM
Dino Julien said...
It's the first Grand Slam event of the year. If I'm not mistaken I think this years Australian Open was played on a different surface than last years. This Open always seems to produce surprises. Look at what Tsonga did to Nadal. He manhandled him. Who ever does that? If I was Djokovic I would be really concerned about Tsonga who reminds me of a bigger, stronger, quicker, Sampras. Federer's still the best until he is dealt with on all surfaces. Let's wait this one out before determining who's the best.
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1-25-2008 @ 9:39AM
john said...
The king is dead! Long live the king!
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1-25-2008 @ 10:27AM
peachy said...
And for the first time in at least that long, there's a real question about whether Federer still dominates the sport.
Anyone who actually pays attention to tennis more than four times a year knows that the end of the Federer era is prophesied every single time the man loses a match. It has been one of the running subplots of the sport for years - ever since he first took the #1 ranking, really - and the tennis press is plastered with 'will this be the beginning of the end?' articles before every big match. He lost in a slam semi to the world number three? Big deal. If he loses in consecutive Masters Series to a guy who had been out of the sport 18 months on a doping ban, then it may be time to worry. (Except, of course, that he did precisely that last year.)
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1-25-2008 @ 12:02PM
robert dacosta said...
In tennis just as in chess..one always plays as well as their opponents allow them to..bob dacosta
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1-25-2008 @ 6:47PM
John E Palmeri said...
The young lions are entering the arena. Roger will win his number of games but not with the consistency in the past. Go Darko.
Wings
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1-25-2008 @ 6:53PM
claytor said...
Looks like this guy has finally arrived. This isnt the first time he put Federer to the test either, and now that hes beaten him, who knows how far hell take his game, figuring out ways to keep Roger down now that hes put him there.
This guy is no Djoke.
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1-25-2008 @ 11:34PM
moseyhall said...
I am thrilled to read intelligent views about tennis particularly the latest Fed/Djok games. What I am not thrilled about is the apparent lack of literacy amongst our people responding! Friends, it takes just a little time to type/speak/spell coherently to everyone. Let's raise the bar a little higher.
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1-26-2008 @ 6:22AM
C. Gates said...
Watching Roger throw that game, I thought, better to be beat now than by that new upstart, Tsonga.
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1-26-2008 @ 9:11AM
eddie said...
Losers dislike winnners. Losers will always try to pull a winner down. Federer is a winner. Let's see if Djokovic can be a consistent winner. Djokovic played the match of his life, and I emphasize "life."
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1-26-2008 @ 9:51AM
Barry Wallace said...
The beginning of the end for Fed? I doubt it. He remains injury free and at the top of his game. Let's remember that he is merely a mortal. But the beauty of this game is that there is always a new gun coming to town with nothing to lose. All of the greats have felt that sting during their reign!
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1-26-2008 @ 10:42AM
Tennis Fan said...
Djokovich and Tsongas both certainly deserve to be playing each other in the Australian Open final. Their semi-final matches (and wins) were superb to say the least! Persaonally, I'm getting a bit tired of watching Federer and Nadal against each other in finals. The new guys could put some new life in this great sport. BUT....I'm still rooting for Federer to break the record of the most Grand Slam wins of all time. He is a marvelous player and deserves that distinguishing honor. He's got LOTS of years ahead and I bet he's got a lot more Grand Slam wins coming up.
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1-26-2008 @ 11:57AM
Lilia said...
Stop all that nonsense talk. He still is number one, until somebody takes that away from him, and he can not last forever, so just admire his greatness and wonderful attitude about his game.
Nobody said anything about being sick? His attitude in the court is something to admire. Look at his records and than ......
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1-26-2008 @ 1:21PM
zvezdas_zuja said...
THE KING IS DEAD , LONG LIVE THE KING !
IM A SERBIAN AND IM SO PROUD FOR WHAT THEY DID IN AO , BUT WE HAVE TO RESPECT RODGER FEDERER FOR WHAT HE DID , THAT HE IS SLOVING DOWN YOU COULD SEE THAT IN THE GAME WITH PISAROVIC. BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO DJOKOVIC , HE PLAYED A MASTERFULL GAME , SO LETS WAIT AND SEE S
THERE IS TREE MORE GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENTS,AND THEN WE CAN JUDGE , WHO IS UP AND WHO IS DOWN .
BEST REGARDS FROM PROUD SERBIAN FROM LOS ANGELES
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1-26-2008 @ 3:47PM
anna.p said...
This message refers to eddie-stop offending Djokovic and calling him a looser,he is very young,to reminde you,he's just 20 y. old,and famous Federer said that when he was that age,he was not as successful as Djokovic is today,so you see,even the king admited that.I respect Roger very much,but tennis becomes boring,it is a time to retire..A shame to u for saying those words for a new talent!
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1-26-2008 @ 5:10PM
Carole B Martin said...
it is a different surface and you are now going to say Nadal is on the way out because he lost and has not won a slam .... only the French???
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1-26-2008 @ 5:11PM
Carole B Martin said...
did you see the look that Novak gave Roger and the boos the crowd gave him. I think he quite impressed with himself and Roger did nothing but give him compliments after the match, let us see 5 setters and the look of scorn/superior looks he gives his opponoents leaves something to be desired and the heart beating, never saw Roger do that and I hope that he continues to win until he is not ready to win any longer .... even Pete lost! Give him a break he is quite the player and gentlemen.
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1-27-2008 @ 11:23PM
Lon said...
You guys, it's been proven in history that whenever a champion in tennis has dominated the sport and turns 25 years of age, they stop dominating the sport. Agassi, Sampras, etc. They will still win tournaments, just not all of them and be undefeated. Federer started losing matches at age 25 and is now 26 yrs. He will probably win more but won't dominate. As for someone saying Nadal on the way out? He is 21yrs old wait until 25yrs old then on the way out. Australia Open final...Two guys 20 and 22 yrs. old. My point taken. Tennis is a young sport because it beats up the body fast. Which in most sports you can play until a lot older. Thats why its so hard of a sport.
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