Nadal cries off Rafa slam

A tearful Rafa Nadal was stunned 6-4 6-2 6-3 by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the Australian Open quarterfinals yesterday, wrecking his bid to hold all four grand slam titles at once.

But Andy Murray had it easier, ending Alexandr Dolgopolov's brilliant debut at Melbourne Park, slaying the giant-killing Ukrainian 7-5 6-3 6-7 6-3 with an impeccable defensive game to ease into the semifinals.

An injury early in the match by Nadal made the world No1's quest to become only the third man, and first since 1969, to achieve the iron man feat almost impossible.

"It's not easy because Rafa is a gentleman and he played with an injury as we are friendly," said Ferrer, who will play fifth seed Andy Murray in the semifinal.

"I played aggressive, I tried to go to the net, but if Rafael was not injured, I wouldn't have won in three sets," Ferrer said after reaching his second grand slam semifinal, and first since the 2007 US Open when he also knocked out Nadal.

"It's big for me, but it's not a victory. These last two weeks have been unbelievable. I will try to do my best to win a slam."

Nadal, the 2009 Melbourne champion, took an early medical timeout after appearing to tweak his left hamstring, shaking his head as he trudged off the Rod Laver Arena.

The nine-times grand slam champion returned with his thigh strapped, but was clearly in pain.

Seventh seed Ferrer, who had lost 11 of his previous 14 meetings with Nadal, showed no mercy, ripping shots to all corners.

A tortured Nadal slumped in his seat with his head in his hands after another thumping forehand down the line gave Ferrer a two-set lead. Moments later, he was choking back tears after Ferrer tore into a 3-0 lead in the third, but he battled like a true champion to get on the board, even forcing a break point at 4-2 down.

However, Ferrer kept his nerve and closed out the quarterfinal with another big forehand after two hours and 33 minutes.

Nadal exited the year's first grand slam at the same stage and in the same manner in 2010, also on Australia Day, retiring with a knee injury against Britain's Murray.

Two sets up and a break in the third, Murray appeared to be cruising to victory but Dolgopolov broke back and prevailed 7-3 in a tense tiebreaker. The resurgence proved fleeting, however, as the world No46 self-destructed in the fourth set, falling back 4-0 to allow Murray to serve out the 2-hour-26-minute match.