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MELBOURNE, Australia – Defending champion Novak Djokovic struggled in the heat Tuesday before retiring from his Australian Open quarterfinal against American Andy Roddick.

Roddick was leading 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2, 2-1 when the third-seeded Djokovic quit, maintaining Roddick's streak of semifinal appearances at Melbourne Park every alternate year since 2003.

Djokovic had just had his serve broken to go down 2-1 in the fourth set when he went to the side of the court and told umpire Carlos Ramos he could not continue.

He shook hands with Roddick and left Rod Laver Arena with the trainers.

The outside temperature with the roof open at Rod Laver Arena during the match was as high as 95.

He'd had a medical timeout after recovering a break to lead 2-1 in the third set and complained of heat-related problems.

Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, won the next five games to finish off the third set, winning the last 11 points.

Djokovic, who beat Roddick in the quarterfinals at last year's U.S. Open, finally held the opening game of the fourth set after nine minutes but was visibly slowing down and irritated.

"To be honest I didn't know (he was sick) until he called for help there. That's disappointing," Roddick said. "I feel bad for Novak right now.

"He worked so hard for this last year. To not get a fair chance to defend his title, that's too bad."

Djokovic beat Roger Federer in the 2008 semifinals and collected his first major title by beating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final.

That was the only title in the last 15 Grand Slams not won by either Federer or top-ranked Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic went out in the semifinals at the French and U.S. Opens and the second round at Wimbledon. He finished the year off by winning the season-ending Masters Cup.

The 21-year-old Serb has a history of retiring in big matches at majors. He failed to finish his quarterfinal against Nadal at the 2006 French Open and his semifinal against the Spaniard at Wimbledon in 2007.

Roddick will next play either No. 2 Roger Federer or No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro, who were to meet in a night match.

Federer is seeking a record-tying 14th Grand Slam singles title.

In the opening match in Rod Laver Arena, Vera Zvonareva ran off 11 straight games in a 6-3, 6-0 win over 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France to reach the semifinals for the first time in 25 majors.

The 24-year-old Russian's best performance in six previous trips to Melbourne was the fourth round — she'd gone out in the first round at the Australian Open three times, including last year. She also reached the quarterfinals at the 2003 French Open.

Seventh-seeded Zvonareva rallied from an opening service break to dominate Bartoli in the remainder of the match.

"I'm very excited about it," said Zvonareva, who cut her unforced errors from 15 in the first set to two in the second. "I think it was a great day for me."

She's had four 6-0 sets out of the 10 in her five straight-sets wins.

"I'm not really thinking about the scores or sets or any statistics," she said. "I'm just trying to concentrate on every match and trying my best. And I think I've been doing pretty good so far."

Bartoli, seeded 16th, had ousted top-ranked Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

"I think she played just unbelievably well," Bartoli said of the last 11 games. "She barely missed one ball after that. I was hitting as hard as I could. She was always coming back with some better shots."

MELBOURNE – Spain's Rafael Nadal firmed as Australian Open favourite on Monday with another impeccable display as Andy Murray's Grand Slam bid folded before the quarter-finals.

As Nadal whipped Fernando Gonzalez to reach the last eight, 2008 finalist Jo Wilfried Tsonga was also in fine touch as he dismissed US star James Blake in straight sets.

Nadal, who is yet to drop a set, said he was playing the best Australian Open of his life.

"Probably I am playing a little bit better than last year," he said.

"I'm not saying I'm going to be in the final or semi-finals. I think the feeling is a little bit better. But in the end the important thing is the result."

Nadal's best performance here was 2008, when he reached the semi-finals before being beaten by Tsonga, but his claims on a first hard-court Grand Slam are growing.

He has been the form player of the top seeds with triple champion Roger Federer taken to five sets on Sunday and Novak Djokovic twice pushed by Amer Delic and Marcos Baghdatis.

"I am playing well, but you never know if it's going to be enough. So I hope to continue to play like this, and later we will see, because all the matches are very, very difficult," Nadal said.

Meanwhile, Murray's campaign ended in tears as he was bullied off court 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 by Fernando Verdasco, the stocky Spaniard with the laser serve.

Murray, who clashed with Federer and Djokovic over his status as pre-tournament favourite, refused to make excuses despite falling ill with a cold.

"If I say that I'm sick and it affected me, I know it's going to be like, 'Well, he's making excuses for losing,'" he said.

"I don't feel that was the reason why I lost. I definitely did have my chances, and he played too well."

The defeat puts on hold Murray's attempt to win Britain's first Grand Slam since 1936, and also ruins his chances of becoming world number one in the next six months.

Verdasco, who compiled the best record of any player of the early rounds, nailed 74 percent of first serves to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final in 23 attempts.

"It was one of my biggest goals to be in a Grand Slam quarter-finals for the first time. Right now I'm so happy to make this goal possible," said the Spaniard.

In the late match, Blake didn't get a look at Tsonga's serve in the first two sets and was furious after being broken back when serving for the third.

Tsonga then dominated the tie-break, pummelling some big forehands before sealing it with an ace 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

"I think I'm playing better than last year," he said. "I'm stronger maybe in my head, and it helps a lot."

Earlier Nadal, capitalising on Gonzalez's four-hour marathon with Richard Gasquet on Saturday, raced through the first two sets in less than 40 minutes each.

The Chilean 13th seed mounted a brief revival in the third but Nadal hit back from 3-0 down and got the decisive break 4-3 to end it 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Gonzalez ousted Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in a five-set first-round match before Saturday's thrilling duel with Gasquet, when he took the 88-minute fifth set 12-10.

"Of course, I was tired. But I don't think it's the reason. I was able to run. I was able to compete today. Maybe I didn't play my best tennis, but I can run," Gonzalez said.

MELBOURNE (AFP) – France's fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga destroyed American number two James Blake 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to reach the quarter-finals as his Australian Open love affair continued on Monday.

Tsonga, who reached his first tour final here last year, didn't face a break point until the third set and dominated the tie-break to wrap it up in two hours and 23 minutes.

"I think I'm playing better than last year," he said. "I'm stronger maybe in my head, and it helps a lot."

Blake, 29, was furious with the defeat, which leaves him scratching around for a significant Grand Slam performance at the tail-end of his career.

"It's a little frustrating. I didn't feel like I served well or returned well, otherwise it was okay," he said. "But those are pretty important bits of the game."

An early break was enough for the first set and Tsonga applied the same strategy in the second, following up three deep backhands with a cute volley on set point for a 2-0 lead.

After an intermission for Australia Day fireworks, Blake earned his first break points of the match and converted with a penetrating winner that left Tsonga flat-footed.

But he was foiled twice when serving for the set and Tsonga broke for 4-5 with a brilliantly anticipated volley and then an inch-perfect forehand.

Blake, looking increasingly unhappy, was soon behind in an error-strewn tie-break and Tsonga pummelled some big forehands for match point before sealing it with an ace.

"This year it's a bit different because I have more experience now and I'm playing better. I hope I'll get a better result," Tsonga said, admitting he was distracted by the fireworks display.

"I was a bit stressed so it was difficult to serve just after the fireworks," he said. "But I did the job in the end so I'm happy about that."

Tsonga, 23, ousted Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal on his way to last year's final where he was beaten by Serbian world number three Novak Djokovic.

He went on to win his first titles in Bangkok and Paris despite missing three months with knee surgery, finishing the year ranked sixth.

Tsonga missed much of 2005 and 2006 with injuries and pulled out of this month's Sydney International with a back problem.

Blake, 29, reached the quarter-finals last year but is yet to reach a Grand Slam semis in a career interrupted by a serious neck injury and illness in 2004.

Tsonga will next face Spain's Fernando Verdasco, who shocked Andy Murray earlier to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

"That's a big surprise," he said. "Andy was the best player at the end of last season and he's world number four.

"But it's going to be tough against Fernando. He's a very good player, he's very confident in his game and it's going to be hard."

MELBOURNE – The Australian Open was blown wide open Sunday when top seed Jelena Jankovic crashed out while Roger Federer was forced to mount a memorable comeback to beat Tomas Berdych.

The Serb's crushing 6-1, 6-4 defeat to French 16th seed Marion Bartoli put her alongside Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams as high-profile early round casualties, raising further questions about her world number one status.

Federer looked like he could join Jankovic after losing the first two sets to Czech Berdych, battling back to win 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 and stay on course for a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title.

It was the first time Federer has come from two sets down since Miami in 2005, and he sees it as a good omen.

"Tomas did so well and he pushed me to the limit," said the Swiss three-time champion.

"I enjoy those kinds of fights because they don't happen very often, especially on Rod Laver Arena. I hope it is a good omen.

"I feel in great shape, I feel like I could go another two sets."

His next opponent is Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who recovered from a set down to grind out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over fellow young gun Marin Cilic.

There was also safe passage to the quarter-finals for American Andy Roddick, who will play defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic held off 2006 runner-up Marcos Baghdatis 6-1, 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 in a match that started at 11:10 pm and finished at 2:26 am.

With Jankovic, Ivanovic and Williams now gone, the first Grand Slam of the season has become one of the most open ever with Bartoli into a quarter-final against Russia's Vera Zvonareva, who beat countrywoman Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-4.

"It's obviously disappointing. Nobody likes to lose," said Jankovic, who looked lethargic as she tried to play her way into the match.

"It was a tough day for me. You know, I had a slow start. I let my opponent completely come on top of me and play her game."

She is now likely to lose her top ranking, but insisted it was not important.

"It doesn't matter because it's just the beginning of the year, and there is many more tournaments to play," she said.

Bartoli was ecstatic at the upset but said she always felt she could win.

"I knew I could beat Jelena on a good day, it was just a matter of executing it, playing the right shot at the right time and not making too many mistakes," said the Frenchwoman, who made the Wimbledon final in 2007.

Russian third seed Dinara Safina survived two match points to beat France's Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and will play Australian wildcard Jelena Dokic whose fairytale run continued with 7-5, 5-7, 8-6 win over Russia's Alisia Kleybanova.

Safina appeared certain to follow Jankovic out when Cornet was serving for the match at 5-4 and 40-15, but she somehow clung on and hauled herself out of trouble.

"I feel so lucky that I have the chance to play in the quarter-finals," said Safina.

"This is the first time I have won when two match points were against me. "There are no easy matches here, there are no easy Opens."

Argentina's del Potro became the youngest man in the last eight since Richard Krajicek in 1992 and has now reached two consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals after last year's US Open.

"Against Roger, he will be the favourite. I'll change nothing for the game," insisted the the 20-year-old.

Seventh-seeded Roddick was in ominous form as he downed Spanish 21st seed Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.

After battling out a tight first set, Roddick steamrolled his opponent in the second and third to send out a warning that he cannot be underestimated as he looks to add to his lone Grand Slam triumph at the US Open in 2003.

MELBOURNE – Seventh seeded American Andy Roddick was in ominous form as he downed Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

Playing on the Hisense Arena for the third match in a row, Roddick battled out a tight first set then steamrolled his Spanish opponent in the second and third sets to send out a warning to his rivals.

"I didn't start off great, and then I thought the second and third sets were a lot better," Roddick said.

"Which is, I guess, the direction you want to go in."

The American has been in great form at this year's tournament, dropping only one set on his way to the last eight, against Belgium's Xavier Malisse in the second round.

Roddick blasted 13 aces against Robredo and won 84 percent of his first serves to have the Spanish player on the back foot throughout the match.

He broke Robredo five times and wasn't broken once -- the Spaniard only had one break point over the three sets.

"I don't know that I've had a bad day against him," Roddick said.

"I feel like I always come off the court having played pretty well."

Roddick's quarter-final appearance equals his best Grand Slam performance of what was for him a disappointing 2008.

He now plays either defending champion Novak Djokovic or 2006 runner-up and crowd favourite Marcos Baghdatis for a place in the semi-finals.

He said it didn't really matter to him who he played.

"Yeah, I mean, it's pretty similar," he said.

"I think Novak is probably a little bit steadier where Marcos is a little bit more of a shot maker, maybe takes some more risks.

"But they're both great players and both obviously extremely comfortable at this tournament.

"They both have had their career tournaments here, so either way, I'll be up against it."

Asked about playing his matches on the Hisense court and not the main Rod Laver Arena the former world number one was diplomatic.

"You know what, I'm coming into this tournament and I'm not one of the guys that have to make a priority in the schedule right now -- I understand that," he said.

"The other guys have deserved that spot so, I'm not ... I certainly don't feel like I'm entitled to anything.

"I just have to go back to work wherever it is."

MELBOURNE – Defending champion Novak Djokovic survived a scare to book a place in the Australian Open fourth round as Dinara Safina fired a warning with a convincing rout.

World number three Djokovic was made to work by American Amer Delic on a hot day before running out a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) winner.

It was a less than convincing display by the Serb who struggled to cope with Delic's big serve.

"He has one of the biggest serves out there, it was difficult for me to return and find rhythm," he said.

"I have big respect for Amer, we have known each other a long time and he absolutely deserved to be here. He played great tennis today."

While Djokovic went through Spain's David Ferrer, the 11th seed who was beaten by Djokovic in the quarter-finals last year, crashed out to Croatia's Marin Cilic 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-4.

Cilic will now meet dangerous Argentine eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro who came from a set down to beat Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.

In a match lasting almost three-and-a-half hours, del Potro weathered some brilliant serving from Muller to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time, surpassing his third-round effort at the US Open in 2006.

"It was a really tough match for me, and for Gilles also," said the Argentine.

"I had a slow start but at the end of the first set I started to play better and that was the key to victory."

Roger Federer is on court later Friday in a blockbuster evening match against Russia's Marat Safin, the man who beat the Swiss in the semi-finals en route to the title in 2005.

Safin's sister Safina is running into form as the tournament progresses and whipped Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-2 as she stayed on track to meet Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in the quarter-finals.

The third seed came into the tournament after a breakthrough 2008 in which she snared four titles plus Olympic silver, and made good on her stated intention of playing a more aggressive game this year.

"Finally I played my game. Compared to my first two matches, I reached my level," said Safina, 22, who has bulked up this season using her muscular power to overwhelm opponents.

"From now on I have to play like this or even better every day because it will be tougher and tougher coming up, but I'm really happy that I won in two sets.

"If I use my power, then I have to run less. It's time to use it sometimes."

Also into the fourth round is Russia's Vera Zvonareva, with the seventh seed playing scintilating tennis.

After a rare 'double bagel' rout of Edina Gallovits in the second round, she continued her impressive advance with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Italy's Sara Errani.

Tenth seeded Russian Nadia Petrova also went through after Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva retired with back pain after losing the first set 6-1.

World number one and top seed Jelena Jankovic takes on Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama later Friday, with her quest for a maiden Grand Slam title made easier now that one of the Williams sisters, Venus, is out.

MELBOURNE (AFP) – Defending champion Novak Djokovic hit top gear in a sparkling Australian Open performance on Wednesday as former winners Roger Federer and Marat Safin set up the clash of the third round.

Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun produced the biggest shock so far as he ousted 10th seed David Nalbandian, while Spanish number two David Ferrer, Croatia's Marin Cilic and Czech player Tomas Berdych made it safely through.

Djokovic was in irresistible form against Jeremy Chardy of France, winning 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 as he shrugged off an indifferent start to the year.

"I think I'm playing better and better every match, so this is really important. This is something that I planned to do," he said.

"If I keep the high level of performance and a good game, I will hopefully get far in the tournament."

Djokovic next faces Bosnian-born American Amer Delic, who appealed for local fans to keep a lid on simmering ethnic tensions between Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian fans.

Rival groups of fans taunted each other during Delic's match with France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, raising fears of a return of sectarian rioting which marred the last two editions.

"Today was bad when the other (fans) came across -- I'm just hoping with Novak that it doesn't turn into World War III," Delic said.

Meanwhile Federer, seeking a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam, turned on the style against qualifier Evgeny Korolev to set up a mouth-watering third-round clash with long-time foe Safin.

The two former number ones, who have never played so early at a Grand Slam, have a memorable history here with Federer winning the 2004 final but being ousted in a classic semi by Safin a year later.

"We go way back. Him, of course, being a former number one, same as me, and a former Grand Slam champion, it's an intriguing match-up," Federer said.

"Back when he was really at his very best, we had similar personalities growing up. I sort of chilled out and he kept on going. But it was always a good match-up."

Federer has won their previous three meetings, including last year's Wimbledon semi-final, and holds a 9-2 record against the Russian.

Safin also said he was relishing Friday's clash, which promises to be the pick of the third round.

"Unfortunately I haven't won a lot of matches against him, but I'm looking forward to it," said the Russian, who beat Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.

"It's another chance. I have nothing to lose. I'm going to go for it -- whatever comes, comes."

Ferrer dismissed Slovakian veteran Dominik Hrbaty in straight sets, while Cilic's potential flashpoint match against Serbian Janko Tipsarevic passed off peacefully.

Tommy Robredo, Mardy Fish and Swiss number two Stanislas Wawrinka were the other seeds through.

American seventh seed Andy Roddick was playing Xavier Malisse and Australian sensation Bernard Tomic, 16, was taking centre stage for the day's late match with Luxembourg's Gilles Muller.

World number one Rafael Nadal is in the other half of the draw along with British hope Andy Murray.

MELBOURNE – Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal began his Australian Open in awesome fashion on Tuesday while Andy Murray enjoyed the easiest of starts to his quest for a first Grand Slam title.

Last year's runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga led a parade of seeds into round two but Australian hopes took a hit as Lleyton Hewitt crashed out in his worst result since 2002.

The new-look Nadal, who replaced his usual vest and baggy pants with T-shirt and above-knee shorts, destroyed Belgium's Christophe Rochus in the mismatch of round one.

Rochus was unable to get on the scoreboard until the ninth game as Nadal dismissed any concerns about his ongoing knee problems to win 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 17 minutes.

Nadal is starting his first season ranked top as he bids to add a maiden Australian Open title to his Wimbledon and French Open crowns.

"I'm just trying to improve and be humble because every match is different," he told the crowd.

"I'm very happy because I'm over the injury and at one of the greatest tournaments in the world."

Earlier Murray was handed his first-round win when Romania's Andrei Pavel retired with a long-standing back injury and later quit tennis for good.

"Obviously you don't want to finish a match like that. Andrei's been having problems with his back for a year," said the world number four, who is seeking Britain's first Grand Slam win in 73 years.

"It's unfortunate he had to stop but I felt like I was hitting the ball well."

American James Blake overcame dogged resistance from Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic, as Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet completed a good day for France.

"You can't get a much more exciting three-setter," Blake said. "It was a little too exciting but he played some great tennis."

Hewitt's comeback from injury stalled but he produced some typically battling tennis in a five-set defeat to Fernando Gonzalez.

The former number one refused to contemplate retirement and insisted he was on track for a return to the top 10.

"He's a tough player to play against for anyone, even the best guys like Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal), purely because he wants to play on his terms," Hewitt said.

French livewire Tsonga electrified Melbourne Park with his run to last year's final and he was again impressive winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 against Juan Monaco, shrugging off a recent back injury.

"I try to play my best every time -- I just try to be as good as I can be," he said.

Radek Stepanek, Ivo Karlovic, Igor Andreev and Nicolas Almagro were the other seeds through along with Jurgen Melzer, who killed off Japanese prodigy Kei Nishikori.

"No, I didn't have any pressure because, of course, he's good and he's seeded. I just didn't play well today," Nishikori said.

In the other half of the draw, three-time winner Roger Federer plays Russian Evgeny Korolev while defending champion Novak Djokovic faces Jeremy Chardy of France.

SYDNEY – Fourth seed David Nalbandian became the first Argentine to win the Sydney International ATP title with a fighting three-set victory over Finland's unseeded Jarkko Nieminen on Saturday.

Nalbandian, 27, claimed his 10th career ATP title in 20 finals in winning, 6-3, 6-7 (9/11), 6-2 in two hours 16 minutes.

Nalbandian is heading into next week's Australian Open as the 10th seed and the four-time quarter-finalist will begin his campaign against Frenchman Marc Gicquel on Tuesday.

"Today it was a tough match," he said. "I feel I played very good sometimes and sometimes not so good.

"But it was a very positive week and I'm going to arrive to Melbourne with a lot of confidence. So that's good."

The last Argentine to reach the Sydney final was Juan Ignacio Chela in 2002 when he lost to Roger Federer.

Nalbandian, playing in his first Sydney International tournament, defeated Frenchman Michael Llodra, four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt and France's Richard Gasquet on the way to the final.

He extended his perfect record to seven from seven matches at the Sydney Olympic venue after inspiring Argentina to beat Australia in the 2005 Davis Cup quarter-final.

Nalbandian stretched his record over Nieminen to 7-4 with the Sydney victory.

Nalbandian appeared to be heading for a comfortable straight sets victory when he was serving for the match at 5-4, but was broken to love as Nieminen surged back into contention.

The left-handed Finn hit back, making a match of it and taking the second set in a thrilling tiebreaker, 11 points to nine.

But the Argentine broke Nieminen's serve three times in the last set to take the championship.

"When I lost the second set with all the chances I had, it got more complicated," Nalbandian said.

"But I was break point down in at 1-1 in the third set and I made a good serve and won that game.

"After that everything was on my side. I felt I got control of the third set and didn't have much trouble in the third set."

The loss continued Nieminen's poor conversion rate in finals, with just one title from nine career deciders.

"I started to play much better from the tiebreaker," Nieminen said. "I thought I could get the momentum in the third set as well. I had break point in the third game of the third set and I didn't take it.

"But it's very good. I needed these wins and I got a lot confidence from this week.

"I really feel good and I don't feel physically tired. But I have to play Monday at the Open, which is very soon."

Nieminen, who beat world number three Novak Djokovic in the Sydney semi-finals, was a quarter-finalist at last year's Australian Open and will meet 28th French seed Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round on Monday.

Nieminen's coach, Swede Joachim Nystrom, won the Sydney tournament when it was played at White City in 1983.