New on Sports Illustrated: No. 1 Rafael Nadal Upset by Dominic Thiem in Australian Open Quarterfinals

-

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal attempted a comeback against Dominic Thiem, but ultimately, the 26-year-old Austrian prevailed.

By HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Outplayed at his own brand of physical tennis for much of the match, Rafael Nadal finally claimed a set to try to start a comeback against Dominic Thiem.

Nadal marked the moment by hopping in a crouch at the baseline and vigorously pumping his right arm four times.

Soon, though, he was back in trouble. And eventually, his bid to tie Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles by winning the Australian Open was over with a quarterfinal loss Wednesday to Thiem — a younger version of Nadal himself.

Thiem’s 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6) victory over the top-seeded Nadal lasted 4 hours, 10 minutes because of so many lengthy, electrifying points and put him in his fifth major semifinal.

It is his first somewhere other than at the French Open, the place that is Nadal’s domain.

Of more significance: The outcome ended Nadal’s career-best streak of making at least the semifinals at seven consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, a span during which he earned three trophies to narrow his gap with Federer.

The last time Nadal didn’t get to the final four at a major? Also at the Australian Open, where he also went out in the quarterfinals two years ago before finishing as the runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2019.

That was Nadal’s fourth defeat in a final at Melbourne Park since he won his lone title at the place in 2009. He’s won two at Wimbledon, four at the U.S. Open and 12 at the French Open.

Thiem had been 0-5 against Nadal at the majors, including losses in the final at Roland Garros each of the past two years.

But this one was different. The defining statistic: Thiem won exactly twice as many points that featured nine or more shots, 24-12.

Thiem managed to hang in there with Nadal on physical baseline exchanges, trading groundstroke for groundstroke and picking the proper spots to move forward.

Or to describe it another way: Thiem was out-Nadal-ing Nadal, the ultimate grinder who never met a point that was too long or too grueling.

Now Thiem will play No. 7 Alexander Zverev on Friday for a berth in the title match.

Zverev reached his first major semifinal anywhere by overcoming a terrible start Wednesday and putting together a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.

___

More AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

TRANSFERS Super Eagles forward Josh Maja agrees 50% wage cut to remain in France

-
Image
  The young striker has decided to commit to his club and will remain in France after a turnaround. Home Football Other Sports Scores & Results Back to Pulse LIVE SCORES TRANSFERS   Super Eagles forward Josh Maja agrees 50% wage cut to remain in France IZUCHUKWU AKAWOR   August 27, 2022 10:24 AM     Sports  Football  Super-Eagles The young striker has decided to commit to his club and will remain in France after a turnaround. Nigerian striker Josh Maja is set for an extended stay in France after an agreement with his club Bordeaux.  Maja has agreed to commit his immediate future to the club following their relegation to Ligue 2  as per GFFN . Josh Maja (AFP via Getty Images)   Getty Images "Josh Maja has finally agreed to extend his contract with Bordeaux," GFFN stated in a report via L'equipe.  The decision to extend his contract comes after the 23-year-old agreed to a 50% wage cut. Maja's turnaround Maja had initially rejected...
Read more

New on Sports Illustrated: Ertz, Heath Injury Statuses Hang Over USWNT as Olympics Approach

-
Image
Both players will miss next month's Summer Series trio of friendlies in Texas, but the ultimate goal is being fit for Tokyo. For months, the biggest problem facing the U.S. women's national team ahead of the Olympics was the kind any manager around the world would welcome.  With so much talent, how do you only pick 18 players? And while that's still the case in many ways for Vlatko Andonovski, he and the U.S. are faced with another pressing issue now, one that's less of an enviable proposition. What if the team's most indispensable player isn't healthy? Julie Ertz's injury status is now item No. 1 on the docket as the days tick down to this summer's Olympics in Tokyo. Ertz suffered a right MCL sprain in the Chicago Red Stars' NWSL season-opening loss to the Portland Thorns, an injury that, all things considered, was not a worst-case scenario—at least for the national team. Ertz looks unlikely to play again for her club until after the Olympics,...
Read more

New on Sports Illustrated: Heat's Chris Silva Gets Emotional As He Reunites With His Mom For First Time In Three Years

-
Miami Heat center Chris Silva got a special surprise from the NBA on Friday afternoon. Chris Silva has been one of the Miami Heat's most surprising bright spots this season. But Silva had one of the best surprises of his entire life on Friday afternoon, when he reunited with his mom for the first time in three years. Carine Minkoue Obame, Silva’s mom, surprised her son at the end of Miami’s practice Friday. The video showed Obame’s travels from Africa to American Airlines Arena.  "That's my mom," he says upon, getting emotional as they hug. The surprise, according to the Heat, was set up through NBA commissioner Adam Silver, senior vice president of international basketball operations Kimberly Bohuny and the NBA Africa program. Silva is originally from Gabon, Africa, and had last seen his mother while he was still at the University of South Carolina. Silva, an undrafted rookie, is playing with the Heat under a two-way contract this season.  Through 25 ga...
Read more