Melbourne January 27:
Injury-hit world number one Rafael Nadal was sensationally dumped from the Australian Open quarter-finals 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 by Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.
The defeat ended Nadal's bid for a fourth straight non-calendar year Grand Slam victory. Only Don Budge and Rod Laver have held all four titles at the same time.
Nadal looked troubled by a strapped left hamstring injury which he appeared to pick up in a drawn-out second game of the match, and needed medical timeouts to see out the 2hr 33min match on Rod Laver Arena.
It was seventh seed Ferrer's fourth win over Nadal in 15 encounters and he will now play British fifth seed Andy Murray in Friday's semi-final. It will be Ferrer's second Grand Slam semi-final after he reached the last four at the 2007 US Open.
Injury-hit world number one Rafael Nadal was sensationally dumped from the Australian Open quarter-finals 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 by Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.
The defeat ended Nadal's bid for a fourth straight non-calendar year Grand Slam victory. Only Don Budge and Rod Laver have held all four titles at the same time.
Nadal looked troubled by a strapped left hamstring injury which he appeared to pick up in a drawn-out second game of the match, and needed medical timeouts to see out the 2hr 33min match on Rod Laver Arena.
It was seventh seed Ferrer's fourth win over Nadal in 15 encounters and he will now play British fifth seed Andy Murray in Friday's semi-final. It will be Ferrer's second Grand Slam semi-final after he reached the last four at the 2007 US Open.
