Novak Djokovic vs Roger Federer is not just played out on the court or on the telly. It’s played in the heart of the tennis fan — especially with the sentimental value attached to watching an ageing Federer try and end his wait for an 18th Grand Slam title and the brutal destruction that Djokovic can inflict on an all-time great.
So as the two got ready for their 45th meeting (with the head-to-head tied at 22-22), so did the Twitterati, and they didn’t disappoint. Djokovic eventually won the Australian Open semifinal 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, but it was an emotional roller-coaster for Federer fans.
Here’s how the match played out on Twitter:
First set: 6-1 to Djokovic. Demolition.
Even Federer can’t cope with this guyDjokovic is punishing him. 5-1 & serving for the set https://t.co/TSzdxF5dCk pic.twitter.com/Br9hC03OEI
— BBC Tennis (@bbctennis) January 28, 2016Novak is absolutely on fire right now. He breaks again for 5-1 and honestly, there’s not much Roger could have done about it.
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) January 28, 2016Oh my God. This is horrible. He isn’t playing half his game that he’s displayed in the #AusOpen till now. #federerdjokovic
— Manas Mitul (@ManasMitul) January 28, 2016Djokovic with statement start: locked in, confident, boom
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 28, 2016Exactly the start Djoker was looking for, Fedfan of his 22 wins 21 have come when he win the 1st set
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 28, 2016Federer is losing point after point that he would win against anybody else
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 28, 20161st set, 6-1, 22 minutes Djokovic. Federer has only beaten Djokovic once after losing 1st set and never in a best of 5 set match
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 28, 2016Federer just looking rattled against Djokovic. Roger has just not tuned into Novak’s frequency. #AusOpen
— Kunal S. Kanwar (@kunalskanwar) January 28, 2016Last time Federer won a Slam match vs. Djokovic after losing the opening set? Never.
— Gaspar Lança (@gasparlanca) January 28, 2016Second set: 6-2 to Djokovic. Disbelief.
That unfamiliar sight, Federer in full fright
— Pete Bodo (@ptbodo) January 28, 2016Federer lost serve 5 times in his 1st five matches. He has lost serve 3 times in 33 minutes against Djokovic
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 28, 2016If I am @milosraonic or @andy_murray I have turned of the TV.
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) January 28, 201611 winners. 3 unforced errors. 3 breaks. Djokovic leads Federer 6-1 2-1. #AusOpen #SleepIsForTheWeak
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) January 28, 2016We don’t expect you to win, Roger. But at least give us a fight here! Don’t let us down so bad… #AusOpen
— ZENIA D’CUNHA (@ZENIADCUNHA) January 28, 2016Those passing shots from @DjokerNole look even more awesome from here. TV gives no idea of speed.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 28, 2016Match point
— Greg Couch (@gregcouch) January 28, 2016There are literally no words to describe the level at which djokovic is playing right now.. #AusOpen
— Sanam (@sanamksingh) January 28, 2016this could be over before rod laver finishes his ice cream #AusOpen
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 28, 2016Federer still needs 2 games to better his worst ever Grand Slam loss, to Nadal at the French Open 2008.
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) January 28, 2016Are you not impressed?! 53 mins in and Djokovic leads 6-1 6-2. The World No.1 lost just 3 pts on serve in 2nd set. pic.twitter.com/7CEwmdKegG
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) January 28, 2016Third set: 6-3 to Federer. Hope.
On the couch in Melbourne watching the tennis, but can’t believe what I’m seeing 6/1,6/2 Roger is down & in an hour, wow Djokovic on fire
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 28, 2016Second serve points won % for Federer: 26. Wow.
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 28, 2016And to think I was worried about my laptop battery running out
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 28, 2016Winners – Unforced Errors (62 mins in)Djokovic: 17 – 8Federer: 15 – 28#AusOpen #SleepIsForTheWeak
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) January 28, 2016Federer trying to take the game to Nole. Seems to be working for him. Probably too late though. No coming back after going 2-0 down to Nole.
— Manas (@ScholesEsque) January 28, 2016It’s just unbelievable to see soo much of support for @rogerfederer 👌👌At the moment a lot of us are hoping for a miracle😊🙏🙏 #australianopen
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 28, 2016Email from my mum, just received: ‘Keeping my fingers crossed for Fed but not holding out much hope Jx’I do not want to break this news.
— Hannah Wilks (@newballsplease) January 28, 2016Wow! Novak made a mistake!
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) January 28, 2016I wish I could switch off the telly. But I’ll continue watching, awestruck, inflicting this pain upon myself. #AusOpen
— Moonmoon (@mooninanfield) January 28, 2016what the..
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 28, 2016I thought the Doha final was the best match I’d ever seen Djokovic play, which seemed crazy. And then I saw the first 2 sets of this one.
— Hannah Wilks (@newballsplease) January 28, 2016Federer regaining his commitment to aggressive tennis…feel like there’s a little opening here
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 28, 2016Phew! 3-2 Federer. Slight ray of hope.
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 28, 2016Annnnnnd he breaks the serve @rogerfederer comeeeee onnnnnnnnnnnnnn 💪🏻💪🏻
— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) January 28, 2016Only @rogerfederer gets someone out of their wheelchair!!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/kyPx9mQRTv
— Katie Carroll (@kcarroll9) January 28, 2016GO ROGER YOU BEAUTIFUL MAN
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) January 28, 2016Federer is dressed like Sporting Lisbon and the noise is like they’re playing Benfica. Pulls one back for 1-6 2-6 6-3.
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) January 28, 2016Federer wins the 3rd set because match fixing. Well, you never know right?
— Dennis Does Cricket (@DennisCricket_) January 28, 2016Fourth set: 6-3 to Djokovic. ‘That’ backhand, that rally and then the simple reality of Djokovic being the best.
About time Federer got lucky with the net/lines!
— Pankaj Advani (@PankajAdvani247) January 28, 2016If they go five: Interesting thing is that this usually would favor Djokovic but the 1st 2 sets tonight were so fast it might not apply
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 28, 2016Watching Federer vs Djokovic #AustralianOpen cmon rogerrrrrrr pic.twitter.com/xvmejrN00k
— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) January 28, 2016Federer loses one game on serve and he’ll have lost the match. #AusOpen
— Moonmoon (@mooninanfield) January 28, 2016Since indoors level has dropped a bit from both this 4th set
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 28, 2016— philippe (@philousports) January 28, 2016Incredible Federer
— Sean Ingle (@seaningle) January 28, 2016NO WAY
— Courtney Walsh (@walshcee) January 28, 2016Oh my god, oh my God. Point of the decade!!!!!!! Roger,roger, roger!! #AusOpen #federerdjokovic
— Manas Mitul (@ManasMitul) January 28, 2016THAT POINT 🙌@DjokerNole @rogerfederer
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) January 28, 2016Unbelievable! *dies*
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 28, 2016that
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) January 28, 2016Federer did little wrong, but he’s broken after three super shots from Djokovic and a kiss of luck from a net cord pic.twitter.com/l2hIrSvLip
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2016Djokovic won all 6 points after Federer won the point of the tournament. He leads their head-to-head, 23-22, and is through to his 6th final
— Carl Bialik (@CarlBialik) January 28, 2016the last time djokovic failed to make a tournament final was in doha in january 2015- since then 17 straight- just incredible #AusOpen
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) January 28, 2016For the third consecutive major, Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer in four sets (6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3). Nole now up 23-22 vs. Fed lifetime.
— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) January 28, 2016You are not surprised.
— Pete Bodo (@ptbodo) January 28, 2016Reaching 5 successive GS men’s finals in Open era:10 Federer 2005-078 Federer 2008-105 DJOKOVIC 2015-165 Nadal 2011-12#AusOpen
— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaGold) January 28, 2016Stunning performance from Djokovic out there. Those first 2 sets were unreal. 1st player in history to reach 6 finals here.
— Carole Bouchard (@carole_bouchard) January 28, 2016What an amazing match @DjokerNole played tonight against @rogerfederer , the best brings out the best:)
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) January 28, 2016Djokovic: “Both Roger and Rafa have contributed a lot to my career and success. Playing those two guys made me a better player” #AusOpen
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2016
