MELBOURNE: Roger Federer reacted with disdain when asked if Thursday's Australian Open semifinal defeat by Serbia's Novak Djokovic signalled the end of an era in men's tennis. With Rafa Nadal bundled out in the quarters, Sunday's Melbourne final will be a rarity – Federer and his great rival have shared 21 of the last 23 grand slam titles. Federer, however, bristled when it was suggested the absence of the world's top two represented a passing of the baton after his 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 ambushing by Djokovic in Melbourne. “Yeah, I mean they say that very quickly,” snapped the Swiss maestro, winner of a record 16 grand slam crowns. “Let's talk again in six months!” Federer's emphatic defeat left him without a grand slam title in his possession for the first time since 2003 when he won the first of his six Wimbledon crowns. Djokovic, at the 2008 Australian Open, and Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, at the 2009 US Open, are the only other men to have won any of the big four in the ‘Roger-Rafa' era. The 29-year-old Federer insisted he was far from done. “I feel very good,” said the four-time Australian Open champion, who won his 67th career title in Doha in the run-up to the year's first Grand Slam in Melbourne. “I'm very optimistic about the next 15 tournaments, or however many I'm playing. “I've barely lost matches lately,” added the former world No. 1, who has seen a marked improvement in his form since teaming up with Pete Sampras's old coach Paul Annacone after ditching out of Wimbledon in the quarterfinals last July. “So I'm happy with where my game is at, with where my condition is at. I'm really excited for what's to come. This is obviously a bit of a blow. “At the same time, I played a good tournament. I have no regrets. I left everything out there. We'll see what comes next.” Federer, unusually rattled by noise from Djokovic's entourage and the Serb's incessant ball bouncing between serves, put his defeat down to an off night. “Novak played a great game,” shrugged Federer. “I just ran into a player who was a bit better than me tonight. I can move on from this with a good mindset, to be honest. “That's what's important right now, that I don't feel like I have physical issues or I'm not playing the right way. It was just a few points here and there.” Djokovic said talk of a new guard was premature, but added that “things are changing” at the top of men's tennis. “All the credit to (Federer and Nadal and) what they have done in last five, six years. They've been very dominant and just a great example of champions,” Djokovic said. “It was really hard to challenge them, especially in the big events where they play their best tennis. Now these things are changing a little bit, so from that perspective it's good for the sport.”
