Australian Open 2021: Rafael Nadal eliminated after a five-sentence thriller against Stefanos Tsitsipas
Rafael Nadal was eliminated after a five-sentence thriller against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2021. The Greek meets Daniil Medvedev in the preliminary round , who was able to prevail against Andrey Rublev . Tsitsipas won 3: 6, 2: 6, 7: 6 (4), 6: 4 and 7: 5.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Feb 17, 2021, 01:55 pm
Rafael Nadal left no doubt at the beginning of the last quarter-finals in Melbourne on Wednesday evening that he is fully back. The Spaniard, who skipped the ATP Cup because of slight back problems, won the first two rounds 6: 3, 6: 2 against Stefanos Tsitsipas. And then still had to go the full distance. Because Tsitsipas came back, got sets three and four with 7: 6 (4) and 6: 4. And the fifth with 7: 5.
This brings us to a meeting with Daniil Medvedev on Friday, who defeated his Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev in three straight sets.
Summer had returned to Melbourne for at least one day, and fans behind the players' benches also had to cool off in the night session. The 33-year-old veteran seemed to cope with the external circumstances much better than his eleven-year-old opponent. In the first set, a break was enough for Nadal to win the set 5: 3, in the second half he struck Service Tsitsipas twice.
Nadal loses to Medvedev in London
In the third act, Tsitsipas kept up better and reached the tie-break without any major problems. There the sides were changed at 3: 3, then Nadal put a smash out. Tsitsipas confirmed the mini-break, drew 6: 3 away. And used his second set ball to connect. It could have been really interesting when the score was 2: 2 in the fourth set: Nadal had to fend off two breakballs. Which he didn't succeed in the ninth game. Tsitsipas took a 5: 4 lead with a break. And brought this safely to the goal to compensate for the sentence.
Before the decision, Nadal left the Rod Laver Arena again and changed his shirt. Tsitsipas had already made a similar comeback in the semifinals of the French Open 2020 against Novak Djokovic, but had no chance in the fifth set. Not so this Wednesday in Melbourne. Because then Tsitsipas Nadal took his serve to 6: 5. Tsitsipas had his first match point after exactly four hours of play. But he forgave with the forehand. Nadal fended off the second with a winning blow. Nadal developed a chance to re-break, Tsitsipas fended off with a serve. And made the sensation perfect with a backhand longline.
Against Daniil Medvedev, his Friday opponent in the semi-finals, Stefanos Tsitsipas has a 1: 5 record. Sensation Aslan Karatsev and defending champion Novak Djokovic will contest the second match of the semifinals on Thursday (09:30 a.m. CET, live on ServusTV, Eurosport and in our live ticker). By the way, again in front of the audience: The Lockdwon in Melbourne ends on Wednesday.
Here is the individual tableau at the Australian Open 2021
laver arena