Nadal avoids top player exodus from Australian Open

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. AP

MELBOURNE — Rafael Nadal avoided the top player exodus that claimed two-time defending women’s champion Victoria Azarenka in the preceding match for a 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7), 6-2 win over Grigor Dimitrov in the Australian Open quarterfinals Wednesday.

Nadal, who received treatment several times for a nasty-looking blister on the palm of his left hand, advanced to a semifinal match against the winner of the marquee quarterfinal between Andy Murray and Roger Federer.

Rafael Nadal of Spain, right, hugs Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria after Nadal won their quarterfinal in their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. AP

Azarenka won’t have a semifinal date. Agnieszka Radwanska stopped Azarenka’s 18-match winning run at Melbourne Park with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 win earlier in the day.

That means both defending champions went out in the quarterfinals — Novak Djokovic lost to Stan Wawrinka on Tuesday. Women’s title contenders Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were defeated in the fourth round.

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