By Chris Oddo/ Saturday, January 4, 2014

 

Roger Federer hammered 20 aces and outlasted Jeremy Chardy to reach the Brisbane final where he'll meet Lleyton Hewitt.

Photo Source: AFP

Roger Federer has not had his serve broken all season. Okay, the season is only three matches old, but Federer has to feel good about the way the ball is flying off his 98-inch frame at the Brisbane International.

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On Saturday, Federer saved the only break point he faced in a 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 victory over 8th-seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Just for good measure, the 17-time Grand Slam champion threw in 20 aces, upping his total to 38 for the tournament.

Federer, who is bidding to move past John McEnroe and into sole possession of 3rd place on the ATP's all-time title list with 78, dropped a second set tiebreaker to Chardy, but he was able to rebound in the decider after Chardy played a poor eighth game of the set to fall behind 5-3.

“He got me in trouble in a big way in the beginning of the third,” said Federer afterwards. “I just tried to stay calm and wait for my opportunity.”

From there Federer confidently served out the match to set up a final clash with Lleyton Hewitt.

“Obviously I'm extremely happy to be in the finals here for the first time,” said Federer after the match.

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Hewitt maintained his perfect record in semifinals on home soil, as he came from behind to take out Kei Nishikori, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, for his ninth semifinal victory in as many tries on Australian soil (first in Brisbane).

Hewitt had dropped 15 in a row against Federer from 2004-2010, but he has split the last two matches with the Swiss maestro, defeating him in the 2010 Halle final and falling to him in David Cup in 2011.