Rafael Nadal will turn 36 in June, he has a long break due to chronic injury and ankle surgery, but the great ace has indestructible quality and competitive spirit.
The Spaniard qualified for the semi-finals of the Australian Open after a spectacular victory in five sets over Denis Shapovalov, who was 14 years younger, in a match in which there was tension and a lot of excitement, great moves and reversals.
In a furious rhythm, Nadal won the first two sets 6:3, 6:4, and in the third he began to complain of stomach problems, while Shapovalov entered into arguments with both him and the referee Carlos Bernardes, who asked him to penalties for exceeding the time allowed for service preparation.
"You are all corrupt," exclaimed a young Canadian at one point.
Shapovalov got inspiration in such an atmosphere, played the best tennis and returned the favor to Nadal for 2:2.
Only great champions do not faint after such an upheaval and do not allow them to lose their focus and self-confidence - Nadal already broke in the second game of the fifth set, saved two break chances in the next, and held serve until the end for the final 3:2 (6:3 , 6:4, 4:6, 3:6, 6:3).
While Nadal celebrated, Shapovalov took out his frustration after the last point by breaking his racket...
After five consecutive defeats in Melbourne in the evening, the Spaniard won the match at the Rod Laver Arena under the spotlight and after two eliminations in the quarterfinals (2020 from Timo, 2021 from Tsitsipas) he reached the top four at the first Grand Slam.
At 35 years and 241 days, Nadal is the fourth oldest tennis player to reach the semi-finals of the AO, after Ken Roswell, Roger Federer and Mel Anderson, who were all 36.
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