MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Novak Djokovic is out of the Australian Open after retiring from his quarterfinal against Andy Roddick with a heat-related problem today.
Roddick was leading 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2, 2-1 when Djokovic, who had just had his serve broken, went to Roddick’s side of the court and shook the American’s hand, saying he could not continue.
Djokovic, 21, appeared to be affected by the heat and took a medical time out at the end of the third game in the third set, after he’d won two straight games to get back on serve.
The outside temperature with the roof open at Rod Laver Arena during the match was as high as 95 degrees.
Djokovic, who beat Roddick in the quarterfinals at last year’s U.S. Open, finally held the opening game of the fourth set after nine minutes but was visibly slowing down and irritated.
On the women’s side, Vera Zvonareva ran off 11 straight games in a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Marion Bartoli to reach the semifinals for the first time in 25 majors.
The 24-year-old Russian’s best performance in six previous trips to Melbourne was the fourth round — she’d gone out in the first round at the Australian Open three times, including last year. And she made the quarterfinals at the 2003 French Open.
Seventh-seeded Zvonareva rallied from an opening service break to dominate 2007 Wimbledon finalist Bartoli in the remainder of their quarterfinal.
“I’m very excited about it,” said Zvonareva, who cut her unforced errors from 15 in the first set to two in the second. “I think it was a great day for me.”
Roger Federer, seeking a record-equaling 14th Grand Slam singles title, was against No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro in a night match.
Andy Murray might have to wait awhile before he’s picked again to win a Grand Slam tournament.
Touted by British bookmakers as a favorite at the Australian Open, Murray lost to No. 14 Fernando Verdasco of Spain in five sets Monday in the fourth round.
Murray twice blew a one-set lead and missed chances to break serve in the pivotal sixth game of the deciding set. He then dropped serve in the subsequent game and was beaten 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“I don’t know if I’ll be the favorite for a Slam in the next year or so after today,” Murray said. “I’ll try and learn from it . . . come back a better player.”
Rafael Nadal had a far easier time, downing 2007 runner-up Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. He has yet to drop a set ahead of his quarterfinal against sixth-seeded Gilles Simon.
Verdasco will meet fifth- seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the runner-up here last year who defeated No. 9 James Blake 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Australian Open at a glance
A look today at Melbourne Park:
Key men’s matches today: No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 8 Juan Martin Del Potro; No. 7 Andy Roddick def. No. 3 Novak Djokovic 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2, 2-1, retired
Key women’s matches today: No. 3 Dinara Safina vs. Jelena Dokic
Stat of the day: 4 — number of players who retired — No. 3 Djokovic (heat); No. 12 Gael Monfils (wrist); No. 22 Zheng Jie (wrist), No. 13 Victoria Azarenka (virus)
Quote of the day: “I don’t know if I’ll be the favorite for a Slam in the next year or so after today.” — Andy Murray, wondering if British bookmakers, who listed him as favorite in Australia, will hedge their bets after his fourth-round loss to Fernando Verdasco
The Associated Press
