Home » Sport » Nadal overcame stomach problems and Shapovalov and is in the semifinals of the Australian Open

Nadal overcame stomach problems and Shapovalov and is in the semifinals of the Australian Open

Rafael Nadal last year he completed only seven tournaments and for the first time since the 2016 season he did not win at least one grand slam title. Due to problems with his left leg, he ended the season in August and his preparation for the new year was complicated by Covid-19.

Nevertheless, he started the 2022 season with a triumph at the ATP 250 in Melbourne and now, in contrast to the deported Novak Djokovic, he is currently successfully attacking a record 21st Grand Slam title.

Today, he extended his invincibility this year to eight games. WITH Denisem Shapovalovem Although he did not maintain a 2-0 lead on the sets due to health problems, he eventually found a way to gain the decisive set and after 4 hours and 8 minutes of fighting he won 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3.

In the first and second sets, Nadal did not face a breakball, after a hundred minutes he led 2-0 and did not seem to have a problem with the progress. But the experienced Spaniard began to limit his stomach problems, which he dealt with with doctors.

Shapovalov managed to take advantage of the dull opponent’s indisposition and returned to the game. Literally, when he forced the fifth set. But Nadal revived there when the drugs apparently began to work. Although he faced a total of three breakballs in the first and third games, he developed a 3-0 lead and he did not let go.

“I don’t know how I handled it at all. At one point I was completely out. It was a hard hot day, I didn’t even train here in such weather,” Nadal admitted. “I started well. I played tennis that I can. But then I got tired and I had to win,” said the native of Mallorca.

“The problems started in the third set. I didn’t feel well at all, I had uncomfortable stomach tension. I completely lost the wind from the sails. I got some digestive pills and fortunately it soon helped and I got better,” Nadal described.

“I was just trying to survive, it was physically devastating. Fortunately, the service helped me in the end. I felt tired for some long exchanges, so it was important to have a high first serve rate and speed up the match,” said the 35-year-old Spaniard.

Shapovalov, 22, who helped Canada triumph at the ATP Cup at the start of the season, played the grand slam quarterfinals for the third time in his career and for the first time in Melbourne. His best result remains the semifinals from last year’s Wimbledon.

“I think I could beat Rafu today. I was a better player in the third, fourth and fifth sets. I had more chances. A single bad game decided and that sucks,” said Shapovalov, who destroyed his racket after the match.

Nadal starts the Australian Open for the eighteenth time in his career and has not played in the quarterfinals only three times, but only advanced to the semi-finals for the seventh time. He has a 5-1 record in it, he only managed to triumph in 2009.

Since then, he has lost four times in the finals – twice with Djokovic and once with Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. They are all missing in Melbourne this year and Nadal is the only former spider champion and for the first time he plays in grand slam without competition from Djokovic and Federer.

He will not face in the semifinals until Friday Matthew Berrettinimu (h2h 0-1), who also managed the quarterfinals in five sets after losing a 2-0 lead. The French Gaëla Monfilse defeated 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-2.

“I am no longer 21 years old, so I am glad that I will have two days off after such a match. I will have a complete day off tomorrow. I believe that I will be ready for the semifinals. Two months ago I did not know if I would return to the professional circuit. So now I enjoy being back and I can play these big matches, “Nadal added.

The 25-year-old Italian Berrettini is in the semifinal semifinals for the third time in his career and for the first time in Melbourne. He achieved his best result last year at Wimbledon, where he lost to the final with Djokovic.

• AUSTRALIAN OPEN •
Melbourne, Australia, TV. surface, 75,000,000 Australian dollars
Tuesday’s results (January 25, 2022)
• Men’s Singles – Quarterfinals •
Nadal (6-SP) – Shapovalov (14-CAN) 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3
10:30 | Berrettini (7-It.) – Monfils (17-Fr.) 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-2

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