Australian Open: Stefanos Tstitsipas Stuns Rafael Nadal In Five-Set Thriller To Make Semis

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas recovered from two units right down to stun Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, ending the Spaniard’s bid for a file twenty first Grand Slam title. Second seed Nadal was on the right track for a cushty victory earlier than Tsitsipas turned the match round to prevail 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 7-5 in a seismic upset. “I do not know what occurred after the third set — I fly like little chicken, all the things was working for me,” stated Tsitsipas, who hit 49 winners and 17 aces. “The feelings on the finish had been indescribable, they had been one thing else.”

The 22-year-old credited a composed temperament for his turnaround. 

“I used to be capable of be per my temper and be calm within the essential moments,” he stated.

“I have been making an attempt to maintain all the things to myself and I am proud of my angle I confirmed on the courtroom.”

It was simply the second time Nadal had misplaced when two units up in a Grand Slam, having beforehand fallen to Fabio Fognini within the third spherical of the 2015 US Open. 

Nadal, 34, stays tied with Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam titles, however Novak Djokovic can pull within two if he wins his 18th main trophy at Melbourne Park.   

Fifth seed Tsitsipas will now try to succeed in a maiden Grand Slam last when he performs the in-form Daniil Medvedev within the semi-final. 

“He is taking part in very nicely and is in good condition. I do know he’s going to offer me a tough time on the courtroom,” stated Tsitsipas, who has a 1-5 file towards the Russian.

“I have to get well and do a pleasant ice bathtub.”  

He beat Nadal for simply the second time in eight matches. Djokovic will play the opposite semi-final towards Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev.

Nadal, sweating profusely within the muggy situations, was in classic type till a nerveless Tsitsipas turned the match on its head after snatching the tiebreak within the third set.

The momentum shifted in the direction of Tsitsipas within the fourth set and he lastly cracked Nadal’s serve to drive a deciding set.

Each gamers served nicely underneath stress in a tense fifth set earlier than Tsitsipas gained the pivotal break within the eleventh recreation after which clinched his memorable victory with a backhand winner down the road.      

That drama had appeared unlikely when an aggressive Nadal cruised via the opening two units, toying with Tsitsipas and transferring him across the courtroom.  

Promoted

Tsitsipas, nevertheless, hung in there to drive a 3rd set tiebreak, the place Nadal’s unfastened play in the end proved deadly.

Nadal hoped to finish a 12-year drought on the Australian Open, the one Slam he has not gained a number of instances.