Roger Federer is one match away from capturing a sixth Australian Open title, which would represent his 20th Grand Slam championship crown.

The Swiss superstar, the defending champion at Melbourne Park, booked his place in a 30th major final when leading 6-1, 5-2 against South Korea’s Hyeon Chung, the Next Gen ATP Finals winner, who retired due to a left foot complaint on Rod Laver Arena.

“I thought the first set was normal,” Federer told Jim Courier, in an on-court interview. “I couldn’t tell what was going on with my opponent. In the second set I felt he was getting slower. He’s had a problem with the blister. It hurts – a lot. At some point it’s too much and you make things worse. Clearly I’m happy to be in the final but not like this. He’s had such a wonderful tournament.

“Fighting was a problem today. I could tell something was wrong, but he has a great composure. I think he’s going to achieve next level excellence – Top 10 [in the ATP Rankings] for sure. I can see why he beat Novak (Djokovic) and Sascha (Zverev). He’s going to be a great, great player.”

The 36-year-old Federer will contest his seventh Australian Open final (5-1) against sixth-seeded Croatian Marin Cilic on Sunday night. It will be a repeat of last year’s Wimbledon final. Federer has an 8-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head series lead over Cilic.

How The Australian Open Semi-final Was Won

First Set
Despite a lack of pace on serve, Chung maintained his position on the baseline as Federer tried to lift the power level early to break in the first game. Unsure of Federer’s service patterns, Chung continued to fight, but under a closed roof on Rod Laver Arena – as a result of rain – the Swiss star’s confidence grew in the controlled conditions. Federer, who had a closed practice earlier, worked on taking pace off the ball in the session. He moved to a 4-1 advantage when Chung struck a forehand long, and two games later – after Chung fired down an ace, then a double fault – Federer converted his fifth set point opportunity to take the 35-minute opener. Federer hit only 32 per cent of his first serves into court, but his 14 winners – and drawing Chung to the net – did the damage.

Second Set
Federer continued to show Chung the kind of level he needs in a major semi-final and broke for a 3-1 lead courtesy of a backhand winner past his Korean opponent. Chung received on-court treatment for a blister on his left foot after the fifth game – having won 19 of 51 baseline rallies. Two games later, Chung walked to the chair umpire to end the 63-minute encounter, the pain obviously too much.

Federer lost just one of his first-service points (15/16), converted four of his 11 break point opportunities and his 24 winners, including nine aces. World No. 58 Chung struck three double faults and six winners.

DID YOU KNOW?
Chung has the ninth-highest Return Rating on the ATP Stats Return LEADERBOARD, powered by Infosys NIA Data.

Federer has the third-highest Serve Rating on the ATP Stats Serve LEADERBOARD, powered by Infosys NIA Data.

It was a nice exhibition, when Bill Gates and Roger Federer played doubles together at the “Match For Africa 4” in Seattle last April and, with the help of John Isner, helped raise more than $2 million for the Roger Federer Foundation. But you don’t win 92 tour-level titles by being complacent.

So before Gates and Federer play another exhibition together in March, Federer demanded that Gates stepped up his game – everything about it. The multi-billionaire needed to get stronger, faster, smarter – “Well, maybe not smarter,” Federer said – and better dressed.

“You’ll train like I do,” Federer told Gates.

“Whatever it takes, Roger,” Gates obliged.

Watch: My Story: Roger Federer, Delivered by FedEx

So Gates embarked on a “Get Better” campaign with Federer. The Microsoft founder lunged hundreds of pounds, lifted tires, did so many sit-ups Federer couldn’t keep count – “infinity plus two,” he said while training Gates – and read about one of his favourite sports. Gates read “String Theory”, the tennis essays of American author David Foster Wallace.

But by the end of their training session, which also included them volleying on a thin wire thousands of feet in the air, Gates is ready for “Match For Africa 5”, which will take place 5 March at the SAP Center in San Jose, Federer’s first match of any kind in the Bay Area.

“Roger and I are 1-0 as a doubles pair after last year’s event, so I’m hoping we can keep the streak alive while raising money for an important cause,” Gates said. “Roger might have a few more Grand Slam titles than I do, but we share a belief that all children deserve a world-class education. His Match for Africa events are a fun way to help make that happen.”

Federer said, “I believe in the power of people. We know that a good education is a decisive factor to empower children by allowing them to take their future into their own hands… With my foundation, we want to provide one million children with the opportunity for a quality education by the end of 2018. The Match for Africa 5 in San Jose will help us reach our ambitious goals. I am very grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Bill Gates, who in my opinion is the world’s leading philanthropist.”

Federer and Gates will play a friendly one-set doubles match against NBC News’ TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and World No. 8 Jack Sock of the U.S. Federer and Sock will then play a best-of-three sets match.

“I’ve been lucky enough to face Roger a few times in my career, but never in support of such an important cause,” Sock said. “I hear Roger’s Match for Africa events are a lot of fun, so I’m looking forward to taking part.”

This is the fifth Match for Africa event for the Roger Federer Foundation, which has given $36 million to support children’s education in six African countries and Federer’s native Switzerland. An estimated 850,000 children across 18 programs have so far benefitted from the foundation’s giving, which emphasises systemic change and sustainable impact.

Tickets start at $30 and can be purchased starting at 9 a.m. PST on 26 January from the SAP Center Box Office, Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (800) 745-3000. A limited number of VIP ticket packages are also available, which include premium end-court seats, exclusive hospitality and a unique opportunity to participate in a 20-minute Q&A session with Federer and Sock prior to the night’s match.

Kyle Edmund reflected on an unforgettable 11 days at the Australian Open after his semi-final loss to Marin Cilic in his post-match press conference on Thursday.

The Briton went past the round of 16 at a Grand Slam event for the first time and recorded the biggest win of his career, beating World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov, to reach the semi-finals. Asked about his overriding emotions immediately following his three-set loss to Cilic, Edmund pointed towards the newfound experience the deep run in Melbourne has given him.

“[I am] disappointed I lost, but it’s been a really good couple of weeks for me,” reflected Edmund. “I got the experience of going deep in a slam for the first time and all the stuff that comes with it. Playing a couple matches on Rod Laver Arena. [I am] obviously disappointed right now, but can be very happy with the way I’ve gone about things. [I have] played a lot of tough matches. Won some tough matches. Beat good players.”

The pride of reaching the last four in just his fourth appearance at Melbourne Park was clear to see, and Edmund was clear he had desires of making the latter stages of the sport’s biggest events more often moving forward.

“This type of tournament just gives you the bug to want more,” said Edmund. “Once you get a taste, it’s like, yeah, I want more of this. I definitely go away from the whole week feeling positive.

“Making the semi-finals of a Grand Slam is definitely something that I can be very happy with and really take that forward with me and build from it. Take belief and confidence from it.”

With just one three-set win across five matches, Edmund was made to work hard for his place in the final four. The 23-year-old was pleased with his run, which marked the first time in his career he had won five consecutive matches, and the way he fought in the longer format of the sport.

“It’s been so good,” said Edmund. “[Being at] one of the biggest tournaments of the world and making a good run and beating top players.

“I have also played some long matches. There’s nothing better than winning best-of-five-set matches in tennis tournaments. It’s a true test of quality and grit. It’s a battle. It always feels better when you win these matches at the Grand Slams. It’s a test of so many things like endurance, mental [and] physical. To be able to win five matches like I have done, it’s really pleasing.”

Due to the absence of compatriot and five-time finalist Andy Murray, Edmund flew the British flag alone at the first Grand Slam event of the year. Subsequent success gave the British No. 2 an insight into the responsibilities he looks set to face in the future as he rises further up the ATP Rankings and further respect for the ATP World Tour’s top stars.

“The attention comes with the territory of doing well. That’s what happens. If you embrace it, I think you cope with it better,” reflected Edmund.

“It’s important to realize that I probably don’t get as much now as a lot of other people will get, so you have to realize there’s always someone else dealing with a lot more. The top guys like Roger (Federer) have been doing it their whole life. They crack on and embrace it. It’s good to learn from them.”

With Edmund’s ATP Ranking moving inside the Top 30 for the first time in his career on Monday, the Briton, who expressed a strong belief in his abilities, set his sights on rising further up the ATP Rankings with more consistent results.

“I think for me, I know that the more consistently you can play at a high level, that’s where you’re going to get [a] top ranking and results. It’s just putting it together more often,” said Edmund.

Edmund’s 2018 goals may need to be re-evaluated after a great run in Melbourne. The semi-finalist spoke of his aspirations to build on a strong start to 2018 after his ATP Ranking dropped by five places across the course of the 2017 ATP World Tour season.

“[The ranking] was a goal,” Edmund admitted. “Of course doing well in the bigger events, and I wanted to win a lot more closer matches.

“The start of the year has been really good for that. A lot of learning. Tennis doesn’t stop. Next week is another tournament and the week after that. It’s important to keep the ball rolling.”