Australian Round up
Published:Tuesday | January 27, 2009 | 4:50 PM
Novak Djokovic’s hopes for a second straight Australian Open title ended under a broiling sun in Melbourne today.
With ice packs and massages failing to provide relief, third-ranked Djokovic of Serbia looked increasingly woozy and had to give up while trailing 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 2-1, allowing Number 7 Andy Roddick to claim a spot in the semi-finals.
The 26-year-old American will face second-ranked Roger Federer, of Switzerland, who moved within two victories of his record-tying 14th Grand Slam by routing Number 8 Juan Martin de Potro of Argentina 6-3, 6-0, 6-0.
The two remaining quarter-finals take place tomorrow when Fernando Verdasco faces Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and world number one Rafael Nadal takes on Gilles Simon.
In the women’s draw, third seed Dinara Safina of Russia overcame home favourite and wildcard Jelena Dokic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
She will now play her compatriot Vera Zvonareva after the seventh seed eased past France’s Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-0.
In the other half of the draw tomorrow, second seed Serena Williams takes on Svetlana Kuznetsova while Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro faces fourth seed Elena Dementieva in the other quarter-final.