'Rafa slam' bites dust as Nadal is toppled

A tearful Rafa Nadal was stunned 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, ending his quest to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once.

A leg injury suffered early in the match made the world number one's bid to become only the third man, and first since 1969, to achieve the feat almost impossible.

Nadal, the 2009 Melbourne champion, took an early medical timeout after tweaking his left hamstring, shaking his head as he trudged off Rod Laver Arena.

The nine-times Grand Slam champion returned with his thigh strapped but was clearly in pain, wincing and muttering to his uncle and coach Toni.

Seventh seed Ferrer, who had lost 11 of his previous 14 meetings with Nadal, including the last seven, showed no mercy, ripping shots to all corners to keep the pressure on.

A tortured Nadal slumped in his seat with his head in his hands after another thumping forehand down the line gave Ferrer a two-set lead.

Moments later, he was choking back tears after Ferrer tore into a 3-0 lead in the third but he battled like a true champion to get on the board, even forcing a break point at 4-2 down.

However, Ferrer kept his nerve and closed out the quarter-final with another big forehand after two hours and 33 minutes.

Nadal exited the year's first Grand Slam at the same stage and in the same manner in 2010, suffering a knee injury against Britain's Andy Murray.

Ferrer, who drilled 44 winners past his suffering compatriot, will face fifth seed Murray in only his second Grand Slam semi-final appearance.