Rafael Nadal avoided the top player exodus that claimed two-time defending women's champion Victoria Azarenka in the preceding match on center court for a 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7), 6-2 win over Grigor Dimitrov in the Australian Open quarterfinals today.
Nadal, who received treatment several times for a nasty-looking blister on the palm of his left hand, advances to the semifinals. Roger Federer regained his dominance over Andy Murray in Grand Slam matches and advanced to his 11th consecutive Australian Open semifinal with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3 win.
The Australian Open women's semifinals will not include any of the top three seeds.
Second seed and two-time defending champion Victoria Azarenka was ousted in the quarters by No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-1, 5-7, 6-0. Azarenka had won her previous 18 matches at Melbourne and had beaten Radwanska in their last seven meetings.
Azarenka's defeat follows the fourth-round exits of top-ranked Serena Williams and and third seed Maria Sharapova. It also leaves 2011 French Open champion Li Na as the only major winner remaining in the women's draw.
Radwanska next plays No. 20 Dominika Cibulkova, who won the last eight games in a one-hour, 6-3, 6-0 rout of 11th seed Simona Halep.