( CNN ) -- Novak Djokovic ended Roger Federer 's hopes of a second successive Australian Open title with a thrilling victory in their semifinal on Thursday night . The Serbian third seed won 7-6 ( 7-3 ) 7-5 6-4 in Melbourne to set up a final against either British fifth seed Andy Murray or Spain 's No . 7 David Ferrer , who play on Friday . Djokovic beat Federer in straight sets at the same stage on his way to winning the 2008 title in Melbourne , which was his first and only grand slam success so far . `` He puts a lot of pressure on you , so I tried to stay to the last moment and really it was one of the best matches I 've played in a while , '' the 23-year-old told the crowd after the match . `` I had to take my chances . In the second set I was a break up and in 20 minutes I was 5-2 down , so if I had lost that set God knows which direction the match would go . '' Tennis will miss the elegance of Henin . Second seed Federer had been hoping to extend his record 16 major crowns following main rival Rafael Nadal 's quarterfinal defeat to compatriot Ferrer on Wednesday . `` Novak was the better player tonight , I 've got to accept that and move on , '' Federer said . `` It 's not the end , anyway . I wish I could have won here for the fifth time , but it was impossible tonight . '' He and Nadal have won 21 of the past 23 grand slams between them , a run broken only by Djokovic and Argentina 's Juan Martin Del Potro at the 2009 U.S. Open . The 2008 Melbourne final was the last grand slam not to feature either Nadal or Federer . The Swiss player struggled to stem Djokovic 's aggressive assault on Thursday , and uncharacteristically struggled with his serve . He saved three match-points in the final game , but his resistance ended with a tame return into the net to finish a match lasting three hours . `` I can move on from this with a good mindset , to be honest , '' Federer told reporters . `` That 's what 's important right now , that I do n't feel like I have physical issues or I 'm not playing the right way and whatever . So I 'm really positive about what 's ahead of me . ''
Andy Murray beats world No . 2 Roger Federer in Serbian Open semifinals . fifth seed triumphs 7-6 ( 7-3 ) 7 -5 6-4 to end Swiss superstar 's title reign . Serbian will play either fifth seed Novak Djokovic or David Ferrer in Sunday 's final . He is seeking to win the tournament for the Third time to follow up 2008 success .