Djokovic and the integrity of the Big 4

— -- MELBOURNE, Australia -- The irony of tennis, a sport without borders, is that it hasn't exactly welcomed outsiders with open arms.

As if conquering a major title isn't already demanding enough with two weeks of balancing long-term physical and mental well-being with granular in-game adjustments, the same four characters have had the audacity to win just about everything.

In the past 39 Grand Slam events, only three players not named Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have broken through this near impenetrable threshold. So smothering the Big Four have been, that this global game, which currently features 2,184 players with ATP rankings points, had become claustrophobic to the point that we could forgive you for experiencing shortness of breath.

But then something curious happened. We began to see the beginning stages of a new landscape a year ago, perhaps an unsettling one for those who prefer dynasties.

You might recall Stan Wawrinka powered his way on to the scene with an emphatic display at the Australian Open, upsetting Djokovic and then Nadal in the final. Wawrinka, who continued his strong play for much of the spring, including a win at the Monte Carlo Masters, reached No. 3 in the world.

Eight months later, after a string of upsets at the US Open, Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori spent the final Monday battling for the championship, a match the 6-foot-6 Croat won with relatively little resistance.

This sentiment was further strengthened earlier this week in Melbourne when Federer and Nadal lost, and lost in such a manner that has reignited questions as to what we're going to see (or not see) out of them this season. Nadal looked completely out of sorts physically in a quarterfinal beating against Tomas Berdych, and Federer played sluggishly from the outset in a third-round loss to Andreas Seppi. Now, of course, we need to mention that Mr. Murray himself is alive and well and into the semis, but he's coming off a season in which he failed to win a single title until after the US Open. Changing times, people. Changing times.

But don't tell that to the world No. 1. Because if it's up to him, at least one member of tennis' inner sanctum is going to keep the tale of the Big Four from completing deflating (enough of that word already!).

As much as he's missing his wife and infant boy right now, Djokovic is in no rush to get back home. The four-time Aussie Open winner took care of one of the game's other young burgeoning stars in Milos Raonic with alarming ease Wednesday and is now just two wins from a fifth title Down Under. Djokovic, who has held serve in 52 straight games and 73 of 74 games for the tournament, beat Raonic 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-2 to reach the semifinals.

Any way you could play better, Novak?

"Well, I'm a self-critic," Djokovic said. "But again, I got to try to take the positives out of every match. Tonight there was not much I could complain about. From the first game till the last I played the way I wanted. I created a lot of breakpoint opportunities. The key of tonight's match, one of the keys, was to get as many balls back in play, returns back in play. I thought from the back of the court I had more chance than him to win the points. I executed very, very well. It's easier said than done, but I feel very good about my game in this moment."

Djokovic will next play Wawrinka with a chance to avenge last year's quarterfinal loss. As thoroughly as the world No. 1 played, Wawrinka was equally clinical in a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (6) beating of Nishikori earlier in the day. Granted, Wawrinka felt a little figurative pressure in his throat down the stretch, squandering five match points before closing it out with an ace, but the Swiss struck 20 aces and 46 winners in an impressive offensive display.

Perhaps Wawrinka had revenge on his mind when he took the court; at last year's US Open it was Nishikori who wrecked Wawrinka's run with a five-set, 4-hour, 15-minute test of courage.

"I'm just happy to be back in the semifinal so far," Wawrinka said after the match. "Was important match for me today to play Nishikori. It's never easy. Had to be ready for that. Had to fight with myself to stay with him, to play really aggressive, to stay on my line, not give him the opportunity to put me in a defensive play. I'm happy that I did that really well today. I think was a great match in general."

Wawrinka, who said he believes he's playing better ball than he did in last year's title run, is 9-0 this season and has won 25 of 26 sets so far in this tournament.

"I think for sure it will be funny to play [Djokovic] again," Wawrinka said. "I will be happy to play him three straight year in a row. We had some crazy match in the Grand Slam in the past."

Crazy? That might be a euphemism for totally insane. Two years ago here in Australia, Djokovic needed a 12-10 fifth set to squeeze by Wawrinka. At the US Open a few months later, the Serb was taken to the deciding set again in a match that included a 21-minute game. Djokovic won the fifth 6-4. Finally, last year in Oz, the two played yet another humdinger with Wawrinka finally coming out on top, this time 9-7 in a fifth-set quarterfinal.

"As I mentioned before, I'm ready for the battle," Djokovic said when asked about another matchup against Wawrinka. "When we played last three Grand Slam matches they were the finals stages of a Grand Slam, semifinals, quarterfinals. Grand Slams are the tournaments where you want to perform your best.

"I'm sure we both are very much aware of that fact, and it's why we get to play on a high level against each other and we push each other to the limit in a way. It's a very physical battle, as well. But I haven't had too many long matches during this tournament. I'm ready for it. I'm going to practice tomorrow, do a little preparation for that match, try to analyze his game and what I need to do in order to win."

Because a win will go a long way in preserving at least a slice of the Big Four's integrity.