Tennis: Djokovic sees little point to Hawk-Eye

NOVAK DJOKOVIC insists there is no need to use Hawk-Eye at the French Open, despite his fury at the line call that might have helped spare him an epic quarter-final defeat to Jurgen Melzer.

Djokovic threw away a two-set lead to lose a four hour, 15 minute marathon 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 on Suzanne Lenglen Court.

The third seed struggled to contain his fury when an umpiring decision went against him while Melzer was serving for the match at 5-4 and 0-15 in the decider. The Serb was adamant his shot had clipped the line and, although Carlos Bernardes came down to check the mark on the clay, the official was equally convinced the ball was out.

Hawk-Eye showed the ball was in, but Roland Garros remains the only grand slam not to employ the technology, largely because of the advantage of being able to see the impression the ball has left.

When Djokovic was told what Hawk-Eye had shown, he said: "What can I say? Should I complain or what? I don't know. This is life. I don't think there is any sense in getting Hawk-Eye on clay courts."

Melzer now faces the ultimate clay-court challenge in Rafael Nadal, who has become the overwhelming favourite to lift a fifth French Open title. The Spaniard shook off dogged resistance from compatriot Nicolas Almagro to win 7-6, (7/2), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 yesterday.

In the women's singles, Samantha Stosur claimed the scalp of a second modern great in successive matches after stunning world No.1 Serena Williams in another epic.

Seventh seed Stosur, who on Monday inflicted Justine Henin's first defeat at Roland Garros for six years, held off a tremendous fightback by Williams – who had match point – to win 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 8-6 and reach her second successive French Open semi-final. Today sees her play new favourite Jelena Jankovic, who beat Yaroslava Shvedova 7-5, 6-4.

The other women's semi-final is between Francesca Schiavone and Elena Dementieva, with none of the final four having ever won a grand slam.