Top seed Novak Djokovic today defeated defending champion Stan Wawrinka in another dramatic five-set contest to reach the Australian Open final. The Serb won 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-0 - the third year running they have played five sets at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic, chasing a fifth Australian Open title, will play Britain's Andy Murray in the final on Sunday. Murray will have taken some encouragement from the length and quality of the second semi-final, however.
The third instalment of Djokovic-Wawrinka did not hit the heights of the previous two, with a combined 118 unforced errors and 12 breaks of serve.
"I did not play on the level that I intended before the match," said Djokovic.
"There were parts of the match where I stepped in and played a game I needed to play, but parts where I played too defensive and allowed him to dictate the play from the baseline.
"I'm in the finals, that's why I'm here, to try to get far in the tournament. Getting to the finals in any way possible is a great achievement."
After bursts of winners and errors from the Swiss, it was the steadier play from Djokovic in the final stages that clinched it. The seven-times Grand Slam champion twice moved a set in front but neither man could string together their best form for long enough to take command.
Courtesy: BBC
