Posted on 1/24/2008 6:11:56 PM

Australian Open Semifinal Betting – Djokovic vs. Federer

By Eric Williams

Tonight’s semifinal showdown between World No. 1 Roger Federer and World No. 3 Novak Djokovic is a match I expected and predicted would occur long before the start of the 2006 Australian Open ever took place.

Now that the occasion has finally arrived, let’s take a brief look at each player, followed by my Free Australian Open Tennis Picks, which, coincidentally, was also made long before this tournament ever started.

Federer holds a 5-1 career advantage over the blossoming Djokovic, but the pair has split the last two matches after Federer won three straight to start their series.

Federer beat Djokovic in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in this same tournament last year in the round of 16, before going on to beat him in Dubai, though Djokovic took one set, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.

Djokovic made one of the biggest statements in tennis last year when he beat the top three players in the world at the ATP Masters in Toronto.

Djokovic took out World No. 3 Andy Roddick before dusting off World No. 2 Rafael Nadal and finally Federer to win the entire tournament and become the first player to beat the top three players in the same tournament in nearly two decades.

Djokovic also met Federer in the finals of the U.S. Open later in 2007 and put up one heck of a fight before falling to the more experienced Federer, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4.

However, it was that match that fueled my prediction that Djokovic would win at least one grand slam this season - most likely the Australian, since I can’t see Federer losing at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open anytime soon.

Federer was cruising through the tournament – until facing Djokovic’s fellow Serbian, Janko Tipsarevic in the third round. Tipsarevic took Federer the entire five sets and pushed him until the very end, before falling 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8.

Not only did Tipsarevic play Federer stroke for stroke, but he made what may turn out to be the best statement by a professional athlete in 2008 when he stated that you have to genuinely believe you can beat Federer any time you play him.

After beating Tipsarevic, Federe also ousted World No. 13 Tomas Berdych and World No. 12 James Blake, both in straight sets.

Djokovic has not dropped a set in reaching the semifinal round an has been pushed to a tie-break just once, in his opening round match against Germany’s Benjamin Becker.

Djokovic has beaten World No. 19 Lleyton Hewitt, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 and World No. 5 David Ferrer, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 in his last two matches.

Analysis: There really isn’t much analyzing to do here folks. Everyone knows what Federer is capable of, though most people who aren’t all-out tennis fanatics (like myself) are still just finding out how good Djokovic is.

I picked Djokovic to win this tournament before it ever started and I’m sticking with that selection. There is no aspect of the young Serbian’s game that shows any glaring weaknesses and the only thing that stopped him from beating A Federer in last year’s U.S. Open in my estimation, was his lack of Grand Slam experience, which should not be a problem this time around.

After predicting a Jo-Wilfried Tsonga victory over World No.2 Rafael Nadal yesterday, among other excellent picks this tournament, I feel like I can do no wrong. Take Novak Djokovic to win, no matter how hard it is to go against the sport’s top dog, Federer.

Australian Open ATP Free Picks: Novak Djokovic

03:30 AM EST Tennis Betting Odds 

Roger Federer -4½ -120

-350

Novak Djokovic +4½ -120

+225

Over 39½ -130

Under 39½ -110

ATP Australian Open Semifinals