Australian Open: Rafael Nadal after a five-set fight in the semifinals - and Shapovalov scolds the referee as "corrupt"
Rafael Nadal (ATP No. 5) has reached the semifinals at the Australian Open 2022 with a performance. Against Denis Shapovalov he won 6: 3, 6: 4, 4: 6, 3: 6 and 6: 3 - but had to struggle with physical problems.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 25, 2022, 08:39 am
Everything actually went according to plan for Rafael Nadal: a relatively relaxed 2-0 set lead with no chance for the opponent to break, albeit in a tense match.
But then Shapovalov came into the match and in the fourth set it became clear that Nadal had physical problems. However, not on the malady foot , but in the stomach area - even if it was not clear whether it was due to being unwell or a physical problem. Nadal summoned the physio and received a pill. Shapovalov had to survive a 15:40 again, but then closed the set to equalize.
In the fifth round Nadal had to fend off a breakball directly, but then the Canadian played a weak service game, Nadal came - again after fending off a chance for a rebreak - to make it 3-0. And held his serve until the end of the game.
Nadal: Will the Australian Open win work again?
Nadal is thus in the semifinals, surprising not only for him after his long break in 2021: After the French Open, he only gave one guest appearance in Washington due to injury and in the end had to have his foot operated on.
Nadal in the semifinals in Melbourne now on the winner of the game between Gael Monfils and Matteo Berrettini.
Nadal, a 20-time major champion, has "only" won the Australian Open once so far (2009), despite four other finals (2012, 2014, 2017, 2019).
Shapovalov to referee: "You are all corrupt"
Shapovalov caused excitement after the first round. When he was ready to serve and Nadal wasn't in position, he asked referee Carlos Bernardes to caution Nadal. Bernardes countered that Shapovalov himself was not ready. That was too much for the Canadian. "Are you serious?" he retorted, "you're all corrupt, you're all corrupt."
Bernardes let it sit, but the action could still have consequences.
Nadal and Shapovalov, however, came to terms with each other shortly after the dispute, and at the end there was a fair congratulations.
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