Four-time champ Djokovic crashes out

Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic shocked by Stanislas Wawrinka in Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic had won his last 25 matches at the Australian Open [Reuters]

Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic has been upset in a dramatic five-setter against Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open quarterfinals, ending his 25-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.

Wawrinka lost 14 straight head-to-heads to Djokovic before Tuesday night’s 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 win in four hours on Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic beat Wawrinka 12-10 in the fifth set in a five-hour, two-minute fourth-rounder here last year, and also edged him in five sets in the US Open semi-finals.

This time, it was Wawrinka’s turn as he prepares for only his second semi-final at a major.

Earlier, Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard kept her poise in the biggest match of her life to oust Ana Ivanovic in a three-set thriller and set up an Australian Open semi-final against China’s Li Na.

Fourth seed Li became a strong favourite to reach her third final in four years after Ivanovic stunned world number one Serena Williams on Sunday to blow open the top half of the draw.

Ivanovic, hindered by a hip niggle, was unable to take advantage of the path she had cleared to the final and instead Bouchard will take on 31-year-old Li after prevailing 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

“It’s not exactly a surprise,” said the confident 19-year-old, the first Canadian to reach the last-four in Melbourne.

“I always expect myself to do well. I’m just happy to have gone through this step. I’m not done. I have a match on Thursday. I’m just looking forward to that.”

Li dispatched Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour in the first quarter-final of the day on Rod Laver Arena to reach the last four for the fourth time in five years at Melbourne Park.

Berdych through

Big-serving Czech Tomas Berdych fended off a belated challenge from baseline hustler David Ferrer to reach his maiden Australian Open semi-final with a 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory.

The seventh-seed Berdych cruised to a two-set lead over a surprisingly listless Ferrer but spontaneously collapsed in the third set under pressure from the dogged Spaniard.

Source: Reuters