Greek upstart next for rampaging Rafa
RAFAEL Nadal set himself up for a semi-final against rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open yesterday after beating Frances Tiafoe of the US 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
The second seed broke early in each set, with the American only able to put pressure on the Spaniard’s serve midway through the second when Nadal spent nine minutes saving a couple of break points before holding.
Nadal, who despite having 17 Grand Slam titles only has one Australian Open trophy, has been on top form throughout the tournament, winning all his matches in straight sets.
“I feel very happy to be to be competing at this level,” said the 32-year-old, who cut short his 2018 season with a knee injury.
Unseeded Tiafoe, who was playing in his first Slam quarter-final, put up a good fight but could not match the Spaniard’s experience.
Nadal next faces Tsitsipas after the 20-year-old Greek defeated Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut to reach his first Slam semi-final.
“He’s a player that during the last year has been improving every month,” Nadal said of Tsitsipas. “He’s able to win against the best players of the world already.”
Tsitsipas’s 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) win made him the youngest player to reach A slam semi since Novak Djokovic at the US Open in 2007.
“It all feels like a fairytale almost,” said the 14th seed, who has already been tipped as a future Slam champion. “I’m just living the dream, living what I’ve been working hard for.”
In the women’s draw, unseeded American Danielle Collins and eighth seed Petra Kvitova also set up a semi-final clash.
Collins, who had never won a Slam match before last week, stormed back to defeat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
The 25-year-old had already made waves by ousting second seed Angelique Kerber, 19th seed Caroline Garcia and 14th seed Julia Goerges.
“My first time playing on Rod Laver (Arena) and I didn’t even practice on here before and I absolutely love it,” Collins said.
Kvitova delivered a convincing 6-1, 6-4 win over Australia’s Ash Barty to destroy local hopes.
It was the first time the Czech, the victim of a knife attack at her home in late 2016, had reached a semi-final at a major since winning Wimbledon in 2014.
Tearful after her win, she said she “didn’t really imagine to be back in this great stadium and playing with the best”.
The 28-year-old also praised Barty, whom she beat in the final of the Sydney International earlier this month and who was the first Australian woman to make the quarter-finals at the tournament since 2009.