Melbourne  - Former great Patrick Rafter has voiced his doubts about the desire of deposed Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic after the Serb's retirement during his quarter-final with Andy Roddick.

During a television match commentary, the double US Open champion and one of the most popular of the former Aussie players, had his say about the increasingly controversial Djokovic.

Rafter said that the 21-year-old had a history of "pulling the pin" (with four retirements in Grand Slam matches).

Melbourne, Australia  - Nine-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams snapped a three-match loss streak to Elena Dementieva as she knocked the Russian out 6-3,
6-4 in the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Thursday.

Dementieva, the fourth-seeded Olympic champion, has now exited the discussion for possibly taking over the top spot.

It was her first loss of the season after winning her first 15 matches, including titles in Auckland and Sydney.

Melbourne, Australia  - Spanish friends Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco should be comfortable in their night semi-final on Friday at the Australian Open, after a cool change drops heatwave temperatures down to the upper 20s degrees Celsius.

Top seed Nadal takes a commanding 7-0 mark into the contest, which could be played under a closed roof at the Rod Laver arena if it is still deemed too hot for safe play.

Melbourne  - Australian Open semi-finalist Elena Dementieva credits the winter warmth of Miami for giving a turbo boost to her tennis in 2009.

Instead of fighting the Moscow weather and training indoors with snow outside, the world number four got herself to Florida for uninterrupted weeks of solid preparation.

The system paid off, with two titles so far this season and a semi-final spot at the Open.

Melbourne  - A group of 65 sportsmen already challenged it before Belgian courts, but the new World Anti-Doping Code received a severe blow Wednesday from one of the biggest names in sport, tennis world number one Rafael Nadal.

The Spaniard is outraged about a rule that forces high-performance sportsmen to say where they are going to be for an hour each day, 365 days a year.

"I think it shows a lack of respect for privacy," Nadal said after qualifying for the semifinals of the Australian Open. "I think it's a disgrace, particularly knowing what our sport is like."

Melbourne, Jan. 28 : Spain''s Fernando Verdasco has entered his first grand slam semi-final. In an upset result at this year''s Australian Open, 14th seed Verdasco beat fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Having led his country in the absence of Rafael Nadal to victory over Argentina in Davis Cup last year, Verdasco now has the chance to register another upset in the semis where he could face the world No. 1.

Tsonga, last year''s beaten Australian Open finalist, had his chances, only to squander them with a lack of discipline on big games.