While eager to win as many Grand Slam titles as possible, Nadal has often said he is not motivated by beating Djokovic and Federer.Īt this year's Australian Open, he is grateful to be even playing. In the absence of the deported Djokovic and the injured Federer in Melbourne, Nadal can move ahead of his great rivals in the race to finish with most major titles. "I had my chances at the beginning of the third, I didn't get it and then started to feel a bit more tired and he pushed me." 'Playing again is the present of life' "At the beginning of the match I was playing great, I know how difficult it is to play against a player like Denis. "It was a very tough day, very warm, I didn't practice for it. In contrast, Shapovalov demolished his racquet on the court.Īfterwards, Nadal said he "didn't know" how he managed to win on a Melbourne afternoon where temperatures topped 30C. Grinning widely, Nadal celebrated by standing in front of his box and staring at his team while shaking both fists. Nadal's relief at coming through the toughest of tests was evident after Shapovalov pushed a backhand volley wide on the Spaniard's first match point. Nadal is two more victories away from earning a record 21st Grand Slam men's title, which would move him clear of long-time rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Alerts: Get tennis news sent to your phone.Keys races into Australian Open semi-finals.'Australia late to show LGBT support but now we're here'.Shapovalov says Nadal gets 'preferential treatment' from umpires.To be respectful is something you have to do anyway. "It is full of people, I like it - some of them are not really tennis fans I think, but it is what it is, you cannot control everybody. "I am really happy for myself, what a great match, a lot of emotions, I thought I had him in the third and then found myself in the fifth! The Wimbledon runner-up earned decisive breaks in the opening two sets before Monfils, buoyed by the vocal support of the Rod Laver crowd, hit back in the third and carried that momentum through to take the fourth and level the match.īut the 35-year-old could not sustain that energy in the decider as Berrettini held his nerve - despite a rowdy fan being ejected - to clinch victory and gesture to the crowd that he could no longer hear them. Italian Berrettini overcame a fightback by French 17th seed Gael Monfils to win 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-2 and become the first Italian man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals. The 35-year-old faces seventh seed Matteo Berrettini in the last four. Nadal, whose only title at Melbourne Park came in 2009, needed medication for what seemed to be a stomach issue.
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