Rafael Nadal suffers comeback setback ahead of Australian Open in thrilling three-set loss to Jordan Thompson
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Updated 05/01/2024 at 15:05 GMT
Rafael Nadal saw three match points evaporate as he was clawed back from a first set lead to eventually go down to home favourite Jordan Thompson 5-7 7-6(6) 6-2 in the quarter-final of the Brisbane International. The 22-time Grand Slam winner was returning to action at the tournament after a lengthy absence, but his journey in Brisbane is at an end ahead of the Australian Open later in the month.
Rafael Nadal
Image credit: Getty Images
Rafael Nadal was dumped out by Jordan Thompson in an enthralling Brisbane International quarter-final, as the home favourite secured a stunning 5-7 7-6(6) 6-2 win.
Thompson showed tremendous resilience to fight off three Nadal match points and book a semi-final meeting with Grigor Dimitrov.
It is a small setback for the Spaniard in his ongoing comeback from being sidelined for a lengthy period through injury ahead of the opening Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park.
Neither player was giving much away in a cagey opening set, with Thompson moving very well around the court.
His aggressive play was forcing errors from Nadal, whose netted return resulted in the first break of serve at 4-3 to the Australian.
Nadal broke back immediately, though, with a brilliant forehand to level the scores, and would go on to draw first blood in an absorbing opener on his second set point and breaking Thompson’s serve again in the process.
The world No. 55 strained every sinew to level the score at 1-1 after a gripping second set which lasted an hour and 11 minutes.
Both players were going toe-to-toe, with Nadal left kicking himself for surrendering his first match point at 5-4 up after a short backhand return.
The sheer grit and determination from both players led to an inevitable tie-break, as Thompson’s superb forehand sealed an 8-6 win and swatted away two more Nadal match points in the process.
What followed from Thompson was seriously impressive, not giving Nadal an inch and breaking the 22-time Grand Slam winner again to move 3-1 up in the decisive third set.
The 29-year-old would go on to serve for the match and claim a hold to 30 after a point which felt like it would never end.
However, when Nadal finally hit a return past the baseline, Thompson secured what will go down as one of the finest victories of his career.
Meanwhile, it was an ultimately frustrating defeat for Nadal, who certainly managed to get the physical workout he needs ahead of his Grand Slam comeback at the Australian Open later this month.
Thompson reflected on the match as a whole and spoke about having to deal with a train honking as he contested that seemingly never-ending match point.
“I think that train needed some WD-40 in the whole match!” he joked in his on-court interview.
"It put us off a bit with that honking in the end, but it was too big of a point not to concentrate.
“To beat Rafa in Brisbane at home in a quarter-final - I think it’s my first semi-final on a hard court as well, I couldn't be happier."
Looking ahead to the challenge that Dimitrov will pose in the semi-finals, he added: “He's in incredible form. He lost in the final at Paris last year and had a great year in the rankings as well, and pushed right up; he's really on the right track.”
Dimitrov's quarter-final was a much more straightforward affair as he beat Rinky Hijikata 6-1 6-4 in a match lasting a mere one hour and 19 minutes.
The Bulgarian twice broke the Australian to wrap up the first set in 29 minutes and sealed the contest on his first match point with a love to hold.
The other semi-final will see Holger Rune take on Roman Safiullin as the Dane beat James Duckworth 6-2 7-6(6).
Rune wrapped up the first set fairly comprehensively, after twice breaking Duckworth's serve in the opening set, but he was made to work significantly harder in the second.
Duckworth's service game improved immensely to force a tie-break, and despite relinquishing two match points, Rune won on his third.
His opponent Safiullin negotiated his way past the Italian Matteo Arnaldi, winning 7-6(4) 6-2 after an hour and 48 minutes of play.
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