Roddick through as Djokovic quits
| By Pies Newbery |
 Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title in Australia last year |
Andy Roddick reached the Australian Open semi-finals after defending champion Novak Djokovic retired in the fourth set of their quarter-final.
The American, seeded seventh, was leading 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2 2-1 when his opponent pulled out.
Djokovic suffered physically throughout a desperately hot afternoon, taking a medical timeout in the third set.
Roddick will next face the winner of Tuesday's late match between Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro.
The first of the men's quarter-finals was dominated by heavy serving in the first set, with a tie-break required after neither player forced a break point.
It was Djokovic who dominated the breaker, backing up his serve with some heavy forehands to race 4-0 clear and eventually take it 7-3.
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The American then forced another break point two games later but his failure to convert made little difference as he served out the set in game 10.
As Roddick got stronger so Djokovic started to struggle physically, hitting two double faults and then setting up Roddick for a forehand pass to drop serve at the start of the third.
The Serb did well to break back immediately and then save another two break points in game three as suddenly both men looked vulnerable on serve.
Having edged ahead at 2-1, Djokovic called for a medical timeout and received treatment to his right leg which he told the doctor was hindering his service action.
That looked to be the case in the champion's next two service games as he made several listless errors to fall a break behind, and then double-faulted to give up the double break.
Roddick served out the set and, having saved four break points at the start of the fourth set, Djokovic approached the umpire and brought the match to an end after he was broken to love in game three.
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