Wawrinka Upends Defending Champ Djokovic for Trip to Melbourne Semis
Stanislas Wawrinka upset the top-seeded and defending champ Novak Djokovic on Tuesday night in Melbourne 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 to reach his first Australian Open semifinal and end Djokovic’s hunt for a fourth consecutive title. It was Djokovic’s 19th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance and his 25-match winning streak at Melbourne Park came to an end. It was Djokovic’s first loss since losing to Rafael Nadal in the U.S. Open finals in September. Coming into the match, Wawrinka was 1-15 lifetime against Djokovic.
Wawrinka will take on Tomas Berdych in the semis, after Berdych defeated world number three David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
"I'm really happy. I'm excited," said Wawrinka. "It was more or less the same feeling as during the match last year. The beginning was not that easy, but then I started to play really well. It was important to stay with me. After losing two times against him [Djokovic] in Grand Slam in five sets, I'm really happy to take that one. It's great for me."
Wawrinka has an 8-5 record against Berdych lifetime including a four-set victory in the fourth round of the 2013 U.S. Open in September.
"Tomas started playing very well," said Ferrer. "Me, not so good the first and part of the second set. I was a little bit tired. But, well, in the third and in the fourth I played better. I played with more power with my shots. I can move my forehand. I had my chance in the fourth set. But in important moments Tomas served very good and he did good winners."
The other quarterfinals matches set for later today include the number four seed Andy Murray taking on the number six seed, Roger Federer, and Spain’s Rafael Nadal, the top seed, facing the 22nd seed, Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
