Wawrinka KO Federer

Serbia star Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Fernando Verdasco of Spain during their Monte Carlo Masters Series in Monaco on Friday. Djokovic won 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.Photo: AFP

Roger Federer was free to enjoy the rest of his honeymoon Thursday after being knocked out of the rain-lashed Monte Carlo Masters by compatriot, and Olympic gold medal-winning partner, Stanislas Wawrinka.
World number two Federer, without a title in 2009 and desperately short of form and confidence, went down 6-4, 7-5 to the 13th seed in the third round.
Novak Djokovic will line up against Swiss Stan Wawrinka in a Monte Carlo Open semifinal after both advanced Friday on a day of catch-up following a rain-delay crisis left over from Thursday.
Wawrinka maintained his level after stunning Davis Cup teammate and good friend Roger Federer in the third round, advancing on his second match point over Beck, ranked 89th.
Third seed Djokovic, fighting to maintain his place in the ATP rankings under heavy pressure from hard-charging Scot Andy Murray, advanced over Spanish seventh seed Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
"The courts were really wet, even today you could feel it," said the winner. "The balls were getting bald and really fast. It was tough to control, but overall I played really well.
"Today was a really good test, a really good match for me. I hung in there and just waited for my chances."
Wawrinka, the number 13, beat German qualifier Andreas Beck 6-2, 6-4 and will be aiming for revenge against Djokovic after losing to the Serb three times in 2008.
Their last meeting came in the final of Rome 11 months ago, Wawrinka's finest week on court.
Top seed Rafael Nadal and number four Murray were facing a double workload on the day after wrapping up rain-halted matches from overnight.
King of clay Nadal won his 24th straight match on the Monte Carlo clay with a 6-3, 6-0 rout of Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti. Nadal is seeking his fifth straight title at the Country Club overlooking the Mediterranean.
Nadal was next up against Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, a winner over Italy's Simone Bolelli 7-5, 7-6 (7/2).
Murray finished his own job to reach his first career quarterfinal on clay as he defeated Italian Fabio Fognini 7-6 (13-11), 6-4. The Scot aims for even further improvement on his weakest surface with a quarterfinal date with Nikolay Davydenko, who put out David Nalbandian 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
Djokovic has earned his place against Spaniards this week, with Verdasco having been his third Iberian opponent in succession.
The Serb will be playing in his second consecutive Monte Carlo semifinal after retiring with illness against Roger Federer last year.