Roddick through as Djokovic quits

AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Venue: Melbourne Park Date: 19 January-1 February
Coverage: BBC Red Button, Radio 5 Live sports extra, BBC Sport website (Red Button coverage streamed on website throughout fortnight)

By Pies Newbery

Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title in Australia last year

Andy Roddick reached the Australian Open semi-finals after defending champion Novak Djokovic retired in the fourth set of their quarter-final.

The American, seeded seventh, was leading 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2 2-1 when his opponent pulled out.

Djokovic suffered physically throughout a desperately hot afternoon, taking a medical timeout in the third set.

Roddick will next face the winner of Tuesday's late match between Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro.

The first of the men's quarter-finals was dominated by heavy serving in the first set, with a tie-break required after neither player forced a break point.

It was Djokovic who dominated the breaker, backing up his serve with some heavy forehands to race 4-0 clear and eventually take it 7-3.

I feel bad for Novak right now. To not get a fair chance to defend his title, that's too bad Andy Roddick

The pattern of the match continued until game seven of the second set, when some brave sorties to the net paid dividends for Roddick and he finally got the break.

The American, 26, then forced another break point two games later but his failure to convert made little difference as he served out the set in game 10.

As Roddick got stronger so Djokovic, 21, started to struggle physically, hitting two double faults and then setting up Roddick for a forehand pass to drop serve at the start of the third.

The Serb did well to break back immediately and then save another two break points in game three as suddenly both men looked vulnerable on serve.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the men's draw

Having edged ahead at 2-1, Djokovic called for a medical timeout and received treatment to his right leg, which he told the doctor was hindering his service action, his neck and shoulders.

The champion duly dropped his next two service games as he made several listless errors to fall a break behind, and then double-faulted to give up the double break.

Roddick served out the set and, having saved four break points at the start of the fourth set, Djokovic consulted the doctor once again and brought the match to an end after he was broken to love in game three.

"To be honest I didn't know (he was sick) until he called for help there. That's disappointing," said Roddick, who will appear in his fourth Australian Open semi-final.

"I feel bad for Novak right now. He worked so hard for this last year. To not get a fair chance to defend his title, that's too bad."

• how to lose weight
• Nail fungus treatment
• buy cialis soft tabs