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Rafael Nadal struggles with the conditions in hot Melbourne
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ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE / REUTERS
The physically ailing Rafael Nadal didn't let the Zverev conqueror stop him and came a step closer to the Grand Slam record.
The Spaniard struggled to win against Denis Shapovalov and reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the seventh time - 6: 3, 6: 4, 4: 6, 3: 6, 6: 3 was the end of the generational duel.
At first it looked like Nadal would be a clear success, but after a 2-0 set lead, the 35-year-old got stomach problems and lost the next two sets.
Shapovalov, 22, made too many slight mistakes in the fifth set and allowed Nadal to make a comeback.
Now he is in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the 36th time.
"I think I was lucky that I served well in the fifth," Nadal said in the winner's interview on the pitch.
He started to feel a bit tired, he explained and reported his discomfort: "I hope and I think I'll be ready for the semifinals."
Shapovalov complains about Nadal
13 years after his only Melbourne triumph so far, Nadal is only two wins from the next trophy, it would be the 21st victory in a Grand Slam tournament. That would make Nadal the sole record holder. Novak Djoković had actually targeted this goal, but the Serb's visa was withdrawn by the Australian authorities because of his lack of a Covid 19 vaccination.
In the semifinals on Friday, Nadal will face Italian Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini or Gaël Monfils (France).
The question of Nadal's physical condition was a topic of debate before the tournament started.
Still, he was largely safe through the early laps.
The Spaniard had been sidelined for months with a foot injury.
This time the problems had nothing to do with it.
Shortly before his trip to Australia, Nadal had also been infected with Corona.
Shapovalov, who had knocked out Olympic champion Alexander Zverev in three sets in the previous round, complained that the Spaniard was taking too much time between rallies and thus favoring the Spaniard.
"You're all corrupt," he scolded the referee at the beginning of the second set when, in his opinion, Nadal wasn't ready for the return in time.
“It's just so frustrating.
You feel like you're not only playing against your opponent, but also against the referees," Shapovalov said after the match.
“It was definitely emotional, but I stand by my opinion.
I think it's unfair how much Rafa gets away with." He also criticized Nadal's toilet break before the decisive fifth set.
Keys' winning streak continues
Madison Keys, who is resuming old times in Melbourne after many failures, is making headlines in the sport.
For the first time since 2015, the American is in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
In the quarterfinals, the 2017 US Open finalist beat Czech French Open winner Barbora Krejčíková 6-3, 6-2.
'I think I'll cry.
It means so much to me," said the world number 51.
at the winner's interview.
In the semifinals on Thursday, Keys will face world number one Ashleigh Barty from Australia, who won against Jessica Pegula (USA).
The fourth in the world rankings, Krejčíková, looked battered at temperatures of around 30 degrees.
When the score was 2-5 in the first set, she had herself examined and her blood pressure measured.
krä/dpa/sid