Stanislas Wawrinka pulled off a huge shock to send four-time champion Novak Djokovic crashing out of the Australian Open.
The eighth-seeded Wawrinka appeared to have let his big chance go when the world No.2 won the fourth set and quickly earned a break in the decider.
However, Wawrinka broke back and the Swiss piled the pressure on his illustrious opponent, keeping his nose in front and finally breaking again to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 and book his place in the semi-finals.
Djokivic’s defeat blows the tournament wide open, with one of Wawrinka or Tomas Berdych now assured of a place in the final, while in the other half of the draw Andy Murray, Roger Federer and top seed Rafael Nadal are all scrapping for the right to be in Sunday’s showpiece.
Wawrinka, who lost a five-setter to Djokovic in the fourth round last year, admitted nerves and fatigue were a factor and was delighted to get through.
He said: ‘I tried to stay aggressive, to not give u. I was cramping a little bit, for sure it was a tough one and I was nervous. Now I will go in the ice bath for a long, long time.
‘I tried to focus on what I did last year. I tried to be aggressive. Novak at his best is better than me, for sure.’
source: metro UK
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