Blockbuster semis line-up complete

Djokovic and Murray join the Big Two in the last four; Sharapova advances too

Appearing ill for much of the match,defending champion Novak Djokovic held on to beat David Ferrer 6-4 7-6 4 6-1 and complete a blockbuster semifinal lineup at the Australian Open. He now faces No. 4 Andy Murray,who won his quarterfinal match earlier Wednesday 6-3 6-3 6-1 over Kei Nishikori of Japan.

It marks only the third time that the top four seeds have advanced to the semis at the Australian Open,previously it was in 1988 and 2005. It was also the 14th time at all Grand Slams since the Open Era began in 1968,but it has happened in three of the last four,after the US Open and French Open last year.

Djokovic rubbed the back of his upper left leg on several occasions,looked on the verge of being physically sick in the second set and buried his head in towels several times during breaks. Late in the third set,a tired-looking Djokovic sat down on a linesmans chair during a line-call video challenge by Ferrer.

I was lucky to get out of the second set,it was a big mental advantage to get two sets up, Djokovic said. An hour after the match,Djokovic further played down the possibility of any injuries,saying: I dont have any physical issues.

Its just today I found it very difficult after a long time to breathe because I felt the whole day my nose was closed a little bit. I just wasnt able to get enough oxygen.

Ferrer said he couldnt be sure if Djokovic was healthy or not. You have to ask to him, Ferrer said,he ran perfect all the match. Nothing special.

Djokovic said hed be watching the Nadal and Federer match like any tennis fan. I will enjoy it from my couch8230; Im going to have a nice dinner at home and watch them.

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On the womens side,former and reigning Wimbledon winners Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova,two of the three players who can take the No. 1 ranking,advanced to the semifinals. Sharapova won 6-2 6-3 on Wednesday against fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova,who knocked out five-time champion Serena Williams in the previous round. Kvitova reached the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the first time with a 6-4 6-4 win over unseeded Italian Sara Errani.

The other player who can reach No. 1,third-seeded Victoria Azarenka,plays defending champion Kim Clijsters in the other semifinal Thursday. Sharapova must repeat her 2008 Australian title run if she is to take over the No. 1 spot. Kvitova only has to match or better Azarenka to take the top spot. Sharapova has dropped one set and lost 21 games in five matches.

Paes-Stepanek in semis

Leander Paes had a productive day as he made the mens doubles semifinals with Radek Stepanek with a win over 10th seeds Eric Butorac of USA and Brazils Bruno Soares 6-4 7-6 and entered the mixed doubles quarterfinals with Elena Vesnina after downing unseeded Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei and Marcin Matkowski of Poland in straight sets 6-3 7-5. However,it was over for Sania Mirza and Russian Vesnina after they suffered a 6-7 6-2 4-6 loss at the hands of the unseeded Russian duo of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva. Sania,however made it to the mixed doubles semifinal along with Mahesh Bhupathi after they beat American Liezel Huber and British Colin Fleming 7-6 5 6-2.

Grunts get louder

Maria Sharapova slapped down questions over her shrieking. Sharapova,described by Agnieszka Radwanska as just too loud,told a questioner that that no one important enough had told her to be quiet. Ive heard it a few times over my career. Youve watched me grow up,youve watched me play tennis. Ive been the same over the course of my career. No one important enough has told me to change or do something different. Debate has reached a crescendo after Belarusian Victoria Azarenkas distinctive squeal was mimicked by large sections of the Melbourne crowd during her win over Casey Dellacqua. AFP