Australian Open 2014: Stanislas Wawrinka Shocks Novak Djokovic in Five-Set Thriller

Stanislas Wawrinka shocked defending champion Novak Djokovic to reach his first Australia Open semi-final following a five-set thriller in Melbourne

The Swiss prevailed 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7 in four hours and will meet Tomas Berdych for a place in Sunday's final.

After Wawrinka stormed into a two sets to one lead Djokovic staged a virtuoso comeback only for the Swiss to avenge the defeat at the same stage 12 months ago, end a 14-match losing streak against the Serbian and reach the last four down under for the first time.

Following the five-hour marathon quarter-final last year, Djokovic – seeking a fourth successive title in Melbourne – was seeking to get the job done quickly against Wawrinka and a break in the sixth game suggested his intentions.

He eventually served out the set without alarm and Wawrinka struggled on the normally reliable backhand side and a solid start to the second set meant the Serbian held the upper hand.

Wawrinka refused to go down lightly however and found his range with his backhand to secure a break and after a strong Djokovic hold, the No.8 seed levelled the match.

And after dropping his first set of the tournament, the five-time grand slam champion continued to wilt as Wawrinka grew into the contest, with the Swiss grabbing a double break as Djokovic reeled off 13 unforced errors.

The US Open semi-finalist from 2013 was threatening to match his best finish at a major when he took a two sets to one lead.

Djokovic began to ratchet the pressure up on the until now settled Wawrinka serve and a break in the eighth game of the fourth set put him on the brink of squaring the match and was followed by a customary roar from the world No.2.

Forced to save two break points, Djokovic eventually forced a fifth set with Wawrinka's best chance of reaching the semi-final seemingly gone.

When Djokovic grabbed a break in the deciding set after Wawrinka netted a sliding forehand, the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd could have been forgiven for expecting a procession but the world No.8 had other ideas.

A break back following by a hold of his own gave Wawrinka a 3-2 lead and when he saved more break points in the next service game, Djokovic found his monumental defence unravelling.

After a short delay for rain, Wawrinka produce his 17<sup>th ace to force Djokovic to serve to stay in the match which the defending champion duly did to take the contest into a sudden death tie-break.

But it was Wawrinka who on this occasion outlasted Djokovic as successive errors allowed the 28 year old to break his opponents' 28-match unbeaten run and send him into his maiden Australia Open semi-final.