Roger Federer Loses: 10 Biggest Losers at the 2011 Australian Open

The United States awoke to the surprising news that Roger Federer had been defeated in straight sets by Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the 2011 Australian Open. 

Breaking just one day after David Ferrer took down Rafael Nadal, the news meant that neither of the top two seeds in either the men's or women's draw were still alive. 

Obviously, that means that there have been some disappointing performances. Federer just had the most recent one. 

Read on for the 10 biggest losers at the 2011 Australian Open. 

Andy Roddick

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Andy Roddick of the United States of America looks on as he towels down in his fourth round match against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland during day seven of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2

It seems like Andy Roddick manages to find himself on a list like this for each and every Grand Slam event that he plays in. 

This one was no different. 

In the 2011 Australian Open, eighth-seeded Roddick easily swept through the first two rounds of the tournament then struggled a little bit more to get past Robin Haase in the third round after dropping the first set. 

His run would end there as he failed to advance past the fourth round, falling to Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets. 

Venus Williams' Pelvic Muscle

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Venus Williams of the United States of America receives medical attention in her third round match against Andrea Petkovic of Germany during day five of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2011 in

After easily knocking Sara Errani and Sandra Zahlavova out of the 2011 Australian Open by winning four of her first five sets, Venus Williams fell apart. 

Well, more accurately, her pelvic muscle fell apart and she was forced to retire after losing the first game of the third round to Andrea Petkovic. 

It was the first time that Williams ever retired in a Grand Slam event. 

Americans In General

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: John Isner of the United States of America shows emotion after losing against Marin Cilic of Croatia during day six of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by J

With Serena Williams sitting out to rest her injured foot, Venus Williams and Andy Roddick were the two best players left for the United States. 

As you've already read, neither one fared too well. But then again, the rest of the Americans didn't exactly pick up the slack. 

John Isner was the only other American man to make it to the third round, but he couldn't get past Marin Cilic in a five-set battle to advance to the fourth round. 

On the women's side, not a single American was able to join Williams in the third round. In fact, Vania King was the only other one that was able to even win a match. 

Robin Soderling

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 24: Robin Soderling of Sweden looks on in his fourth round match against Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine during day eight of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo

Since Robin Soderling is the No. four player in the world right now, at least among the men, I expect big things from him at the 2011 Australian Open. 

Robin definitely let me down. 

After Soderling cruised through the first three rounds at Melbourne Park, beating Potito Starace, Giles Muller and Jan Hemych in straight sets, he had already made in twice as far as he had advanced in past tournaments. 

Still though, losing in the fourth round to 46th-ranked Alexandr Dolgopolov has to qualify Soderling as a disappointment. 

Todd Woodbridge

The most humorous moment of the tournament was the exchange between Kim Clijsters and Todd Woodbridge. 

After her match, Clijsters brought up a text message that Woodbridge had sent in Sydney. You can watch the video I've included for the rest of the details of the conversation. 

It was all in good spirits and both Clijsters and Woodbridge were laughing. In fact, they're friends and there was no harm done at all. 

But still, the video went viral and Woodbridge was embarrassed in it. Thus, he's one of the losers of the tournament. 

Caroline Wozniacki

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark looks on in her semifinal match against Na Li of China during day eleven of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spence

Caroline Wozniacki did a marvelous job of not succumbing to the critics in Melbourne, at least until the semifinals. 

So many people didn't think the Dane had what it took to be the No. one woman in the world, but she didn't lose a set until the quarterfinals. 

After beating Francesca Schiavone in that match, she fell to Na Li in three sets, failing to advance to the finals yet again. 

This was Wozniacki's best chance for a title. Both Williams sisters were sidelined with injuries and the field was relatively weak. 

But in the end, she couldn't do it. 

Kangaroos

"The other day, I went to the park and I saw this kangaroo lying there. I wanted to go over and help it out. As I went over to it, it just started to be aggressive and it actually cut me. I thought maybe it needed some help. It wasn't big, it was a baby. I found out that I shouldn't do that. It looked so cute, but once it started scratching me, I was a coward and I ran away."

Those were the words of the women's No. one seed, Caroline Wozniacki, making a joke to explain how she got a cut on her ankle. 

The whole thing was blown completely out of proportion and Wozniacki had to issue an apology for her joke. 

In my opinion, the kangaroo was to blame. 

Samantha Stosur

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Samantha Stosur of Australia serves in her third round match against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during day six of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo

The hometown favorite, Samantha Stosur went into the 2011 Australian Open as the fifth seed. 

Stosur easily knocked out Lauren Davis in the first round, winning each set 6-1. Then the 26-year old beat Vera Dushevina in the second round six to three, six to two. 

However, in the third round, the Australia native faltered. Petra Kvitova beat Stosur seven to six (seven to five), six to three and knocked the fifth seed out of the tournament for good. 

Rafael Nadal's Left Hamstring

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 26: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks off court after losing in his quarterfinal match against David Ferrer of Spain during day ten of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Phot

Rafael Nadal refused to cite his injury as the reason that he lost to David Ferrer in the quarterfinals, but his left hamstring was a very big problem for the higher-seeded Spaniard. 

I don't want to take away credit from Ferrer for the brilliant match he played. Beating Nadal in straight sets is a great accomplishment, regardless of the circumstances. 

But a fully-healthy Nadal would have been able to chase down far more shots than he got to in the match that unfolded. 

Nadal played great tennis up until the Ferrer match, but the hamstring gave out and knocked him out of the tournament. 

Couldn't it have had better timing?

Roger Federer

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 27: Roger Federer of Switzerland walks off court after losing his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day eleven of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 27, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia.

We never expect Roger Federer to lose. Yet that's exactly what the No. 2 seed did in his semifinal match with Novak Djokovic. 

Federer was outplayed from start to finish and no, I cannot believe that I just typed that sentence. 

The Swiss Maestro struggled at times throughout the tournament, but never more than he did against Djokovic. Federer eventually lost in straight sets and conceded afterwards that the Serbian was simply the better player. 

Federer will be back. There's no doubt about that. 

But in the meantime, he's one of the biggest losers of the 2011 Australian Open.