Janko Tipsarevic produced another surprise in the Mutua Madrid Open on Friday when he defeated fellow countryman, number one seed and tournament favorite Novac Djokovic 7-6 (2), 6-3.

The win for the number seven seed means that last year's tournament winner, Djokovic follows Rafael Nadal, who was beaten by Fernnado Verdasco on Thursday, out of the tournament, along with number four seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, another player who crashed out of the competition ahead of schedule.

Djokovic rarely looked comfortable during his match and his exit will merely serve to raise more questions about the blue clay playing surface that both the Serb and Nadal have not only complained about, but said will cause them to miss next year's tournament if it is not changed.

The first 12 games in the first set went with serve, with Djorkovic looking the more comfortable in the opening games. Tipsaravic was forced to defend a couple of break points, but gained in confidence as he successfully did so and then struck in the tie break after opening up a 4-0 lead with two mini-breaks.

As a result it was no surprise that he continued his dogged form, while Djokovic saw his first serve lose effectiveness. Djokovic wasted seven break points in the match, Tipsarevic had just one, but he took it and that was enough to decide the second set and give him victory.

He will face Roger Federer, who is now the tournament favorite after the number 3 seed defeated last Spanish hope David Ferrer 5-4, 6-4.

The other half of the draw will see number six seed Tomas Berdych play Juan Manuel del Potro.

Del Potro beat number 16 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in which his more effective first serve was a decisive factor against a rival who got 31 percent of his first serves in.

Del Potro was then able to pressure Dolgopolov on his second serve and force the decisive breaks.

Berdych meanwhile brought Fernando Verdasco back down to earth following his stunning win over Nadal on Thursday.

Verdasco looked tired after Thursday's long game in the sun and never got near the form he had shown in toppling Nadal as Berdych dispatched him 6-1, 6-2 in just one hour and six minutes.

In the women's tournament, number one seed Victoria Azarenka will play number four seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who defeated American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko 6-4, 6-4 after a match in which Radwanska's lack of errors was vital in a match filled with long rallies

Azarenka fought back from a set down to end a dogged performance from China's Li Na, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match in which her greater physical strength was the decisive factor.

The other semifinal will pit Serena Williams against qualifier Lucie Hradecka: a relaxed Williams was back to close to her best form as she dispatched number two seed, Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-3.

Hradecka continued her exceptional week with a tense and tough 7-6, 7-6 win against number five seed Samantha Stosur in one hour and 53 minutes.

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