Novak Djokovic beat 5^th seed David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-1 in 2 hours and 44 minutes. The match was played at a blistering pace as both players used up every corner of the tennis court to showcase their skills.

The first set saw Djokovic break to a 3-2 lead with a spectacular running forehand cross court winner and then consolidated to lead 4-2. Serving for the set, Djokovic survived a breakpoint before winning the set on a crunching forehand winner on second set point.

The second set saw Djokovic get off to a quick 2-0 lead before Ferrer showed his fighting skills coming back to lead 3-2. The “Fast and Furious” rallies seemed to take its toll on Djokovic in the middle of the second set as Ferrer looked the stronger player and earned a break point for 4-2 lead.  Djokovic started stretching his hamstring, breathing heavily after the point ended but continued running like a hare during the points as he won the important points yet again. The world No.1 went up a break at 6-5 and served for a two sets lead but Ferrer fought back breaking serve to take it to a tie break.

In the tie break, Ferrer led 3-1, 4-2 and seemed on course to make it one set all. This set would turn out be pivotal and If Ferrer won, he would be the favourite to win the match as well. The difference between a champion and “A very good player” is during these important points and it proved to be the case as Djokovic upped the tempo bringing off a few winners while Ferrer started making errors. Djokovic won 5 points in a row to take the tiebreaker at 7-4.

The match was done and dusted when Djokovic got an early break to lead 3-0. Ferrer continued fighting but Djokovic won the set easily at 6-1. After the match Djokovic said,” I was lucky to win the second set. It is a major mental advantage going two sets up”

Djokovic will next face Andy Murray in a rematch of last year’s final after the Scot beat Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.Murraycruised to victory earning early breaks in each set. Nishikori pulled off some interesting shots including a tweener lob (hit between the legs) eventually winning that point butMurrayoutclassed him on the day.

Second seed Petra Kvitova beat Sara Errani ofItaly6-4, 6-4.

Petra Kvitova in the Australian Open 2012 Semifinals

After losing the first set, Errani fought back breaking Kvitova’s serve with some aggressive returns and went on to take a lead at 4-1. The Italian playing her first slam quarter final did not have the experience to close the set out as Kvitova stormed back to win five games in a row to win the set 6-4.

Kvitova will face fourth seed and 2008 Champion Maria Sharapova who beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3. Makarova who beat five time champion Serena Williams in the fourth round was not able to show the same brand of tennis as she made some easy errors. Sharapova however was solid on the day hitting 26 winners to reach the semis here for the fifth time.