Roger Federer is set to meet Novak Djokovic for the 50th time in his career in the Australian open as both men have booked a place in the semi-finals.
The organisers of the tournament disclosed on Tuesday after the two players qualified for the next round, that the six-time champion, Federer will face Djokovic in the semi-final stage of the competition.
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Federer 38, struggled physically as he saved three match points at 4-5 in the fourth set and four more in the tie-breaker to win 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 over Tennys Sandgren on Tuesday in the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open.
The victory makes him the oldest man to reach the Melbourne semis after Ken Rosewall 43 years ago.
Similarly, Djokovic ruthlessly won his opponent, Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the semifinals, as he targets an eighth Melbourne Park crown and 17th Grand Slam title.
The two players have won 12 of the last 14 titles and have played each other 49 times, with the Serb in front 26-23.
“I have tremendous respect for Roger,” Djokovic told reporters interview.
“The match-ups I have had against Roger and Rafa [Nadal] have made me the player I am today. May the best player win.”
Meanwhile, Federer has struggled his way into a record 15th Australian Open semi, after laboring through 14 sets in his last three matches, while Djokovic has had a much easier ride in the tournament.