Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal’s highly anticipated return to competitive tennis after a year-long injury layoff hit a challenging roadblock at the Brisbane International. In a gripping quarterfinal encounter against Jordan Thompson, the 22-time major winner experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, ultimately succumbing to a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-3 defeat.
Despite starting the tournament with convincing victories over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler, Nadal’s resilience was tested in a gruelling match against Thompson, lasting 3 hours and 25 minutes. Struggling with his energy levels, Nadal visibly faltered at the beginning of the third set. Matters worsened when Thompson secured a crucial break in the fourth game, prompting Nadal to seek medical attention for his upper left leg after visibly hobbling.
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Taking a brief medical timeout, Nadal returned to the court for another 20 minutes, displaying his trademark determination. However, his efforts fell short as he failed to convert several match points, eventually conceding victory to Thompson in a late-night finish at Pat Rafter Arena. Despite the defeat, Nadal graciously acknowledged Thompson’s performance, embracing him at the net before bidding farewell to the crowd.
Thompson, who previously bested Nadal in a doubles match alongside Max Purcell, now advances to face second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals, setting the stage for another intense showdown.
Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant form, securing a spot in the semifinals against Victoria Azarenka. Sabalenka, the reigning Australian Open champion, showcased her prowess with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over Daria Kasatkina. Her impressive performance, marked by powerful groundstrokes and a display of 32 winners, sets the stage for an intriguing clash against Azarenka.
Azarenka, a former Brisbane and Australian Open champion, faced a tough battle against Jelena Ostapenko but persevered to claim a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory.
In other matches, second-seeded Elena Rybakina progressed easily due to Anastasia Potapova’s unfortunate retirement, setting up a match against Linda Noskova in the semifinals.
The stage is set for thrilling encounters in both the men’s and women’s semifinals, promising captivating tennis action as the tournament progresses amidst moments of triumph and challenge for the competitors.
