In less than 12 hours, the Australian Open lost both defending champions. Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka were knocked out by Stanislas Wawrinka and Agnieszka Radwanska, on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
Novak Djokovic who was gunning for a record fifth title at Melbourne Park was shot down in an epic quarter-final match by Stanislas Wawrinka who finally managed to dethrone the champ with a 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7 win on Tuesday.
With Boris Becker in his corner, Djokovic was seeking to do the slam win all four Grand Slams and up his game, but very few changes have been seen in the 26-year-old's game since the German has been roped in as coach.
Djokovic had a relatively easy run to the quarters but came across the Swiss who is playing the best tennis of his career. The duo had a close US Open semi-final match last year where the Serb managed to win by a close shave, but this time it was Wawrinka who managed to bulldoze his way into the semi-final where he will play Tomas Berdych.
Berdych took out No3 David Ferrer in a four set match earlier in the day.
On Wednesday morning, women's defending champ and No2 seed, Victoria Azarenka was knocked out by Agnieszka Radwanska in a three-set encounter.
The Pole who lost to Azarenka in the semi-final at the US Open last year managed to do the job this time.
Interestingly, both Djokovic and Azarenka have a lot in common. The duo are the World No2 players, were defending champs at the Australian Open and they lost to players they played in the semi-final at the US Open where they both won and then went on to lose the last Grand Slam of 2013 final.
Djokovic lost to Rafael Nadal while Azarenka was defeated by Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows.
The women's draw is wide open as it is set to see a new Australian Open champion being crowned. In the men's draw former champs - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal who will play quarter-final matches later in the day are still alive.
But Wawrinka is looking strong and looks good to win his first title. The first Grand Slam of 2014 has heated up as the favourites are all mostly out.
