费德勒步纳达尔后尘 无缘决赛

纳达尔走了，费德勒也走了。继前一天头号种子纳达尔止步澳网男单八强后，卫冕冠军费德勒27日以6：7（3）、5：7和4：6不敌塞尔维亚名将焦科维奇，无缘男单决赛。这场澳网男单半决赛的失利，不仅意味着费德勒自2003年温网夺冠以来首次连续四个大满贯赛事中颗粒无收，同时也意味着过去三年来大满贯赛男单桂冠被“费纳”二人垄断的局面终被打破。焦科维奇在男单决赛中的对手将是英国小生穆雷与西班牙人费雷尔之间的胜者。

Roger Federer of Switzerland wipes his face during his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne Jan 27, 2011. (Agencies)

First Rafael Nadal, now Roger Federer.

Federer, the 16-time Grand Slam winner, was knocked out of the Australian Open 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday by 2008 champion Novak Djokovic.

Before the tournament Nadal was going for his fourth straight Grand Slam win and Federer was aiming for his fifth Australian title.

Instead, Nadal was eliminated by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer and Federer is heading home. Djokovic will face Andy Murray or Ferrer in the final — they play on Friday.

"I'm looking forward to watching that match tomorrow from my bed with some popcorn," Djokovic said. "David played a fantastic match against Rafa even though Rafa was struggling obviously with injuries.

"They are in top shape. Andy has been in top shape on this court. It's a Grand Slam final, anything can happen. I believe in myself."

It will be the first time since 2003 that Federer will not hold any of the four major titles and the first time that neither Nadal nor Federer will feature in a Grand Slam final since the Australian Open in 2008, when Djokovic beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

It will be the first time since 2003 that Federer will not hold any of the four major titles.

The finals scenario could open the door for Murray to become the first British Grand Slam singles champion since Fred Perry in 1936 when the final is played Sunday night at Rod Laver Arena.

"It's really one of the best matches I've played in a while," Djokovic said.

It is the second straight Grand Slam in which Djokovic has knocked Federer out in the semis. At last year's U.S. Open, the Serbian player saved match points before beating Federer in five sets to advance to the final against Nadal.

The last time Federer was beaten in straight sets in a Grand Slam tournament was here in 2008 — against Djokovic.

Federer won 11 of 14 points to come back from a service break down to take the lead in the second set after the two traded tit-for-tat booming forehands and chip backhands during the opening set. But Djokovic broke back later in the second set and took his power strokes into the third set to win in an even three hours.

It was the 20th meeting of the pair. Federer still holds a 13-7 edge.