Đoković surrenders Australian crown

Novak Djokovic went crashing out of the Australian Open to American Andy Roddick after retiring hurt, suffering from exhaustion, in the fourth set. At the time, Roddick was leading by two sets to one (6:7, 6:4, 6:2) and had just broken Djokovic, the defending champion, to take a 2:1 lead in the fourth. Djokovic surrenders Australian crown Djokovic, whose match in the previous round against Marcus Baghdatis had gone on into the early hours of Monday morning, begun suffering serious problems at the start of the second set, when he was leading 2:1, after which he won only one of the subsequent eight games. The match was played at inhumane temperatures of 40 degrees, with the stadium roof closed. In other action, there was to be no fairytale for home favorite Jelena Dokic, whose gallant run in Melbourne was brought to a halt by Russia Dinara Safina in a closely fought three-setter, that Safina eventually edged 6:4, 4:6, 6:4. Despite having two break points to level at 5:5 in the decider, Dokic could not capitalize and the Russian fought back to take the next four points to close out the match. Novak Djokovic in action (FoNet)

Đoković surrenders Australian crown

Đoković, whose match in the previous round against Marcus Baghdatis had gone on into the early hours of Monday morning, begun suffering serious problems at the start of the second set, when he was leading 2:1, after which he won only one of the subsequent eight games. The match was played at inhumane temperatures of 40 degrees, with the stadium roof closed.

In other action, there was to be no fairytale for home favorite Jelena Dokić, whose gallant run in Melbourne was brought to a halt by Russia Dinara Safina in a closely fought three-setter, that Safina eventually edged 6:4, 4:6, 6:4.

Despite having two break points to level at 5:5 in the decider, Dokić could not capitalize and the Russian fought back to take the next four points to close out the match.