Nadal wins 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 at Melbourne ParkShapovalov blasts ‘corrupt’ officials for allowing timewastingAs
Rafael Nadal initiated another run at the
Australian Open, he was as curious about how well his game and body would serve him as anyone else. He had endured a six-month layoff due to a chronic foot injury, a tough bout with Covid and arrived in Melbourne having barely spent time on-court in the preceding few weeks. The hope, he said, was that he would keep himself in the tournament long enough to keep on improving.
He maintained his prescence on Tuesday but it took all he had. He led Denis Shapovalov by two sets, only for the Canadian to pull Nadal all the way back into a desperate fifth set. After four hours, Nadal rose to win 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 and reach his seventh semi-final at the
Australian Open.