STANISLAS WAWRINKA IS through to the Australian Open semi-finals after a five-set thriller against champion Novak Djokovic.
The eighth seed will face Tomas Berdych after a 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7 win that lasted late into the Melbourne night and finished just before 11.30pm.
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The epic was finally settled after four hours and an 80-minute deciding set when Djokovic’s volley drifted wide on match point.
The defeat was his first at the Australian Open since losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2010 quarter-finals, ending a bid for four successive championships.
Wawrinka has only appeared in one previous Grand Slam semi, a five-set defeat against Djokovic at the 2013 US Open.
“He is an amazing champion but I never give up,” he said afterwards. “I am really, really, really, really, happy!”
Wawrinka ends Djokovic reign in Australian Open thriller
Updated 12.55
STANISLAS WAWRINKA IS through to the Australian Open semi-finals after a five-set thriller against champion Novak Djokovic.
The eighth seed will face Tomas Berdych after a 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7 win that lasted late into the Melbourne night and finished just before 11.30pm.
The epic was finally settled after four hours and an 80-minute deciding set when Djokovic’s volley drifted wide on match point.
The defeat was his first at the Australian Open since losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2010 quarter-finals, ending a bid for four successive championships.
Wawrinka has only appeared in one previous Grand Slam semi, a five-set defeat against Djokovic at the 2013 US Open.
“He is an amazing champion but I never give up,” he said afterwards. “I am really, really, really, really, happy!”
Rick Rycroft/AP/Press Association Images
– Originally published 12.35
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australian open Novak Djokovic Stanislas Wawrinka Tomas Berdych