Rafael Nadal seems to be back in his groove after a long time. Nadal had been a champion athlete for most of his career. His domination in the clay court is almost equal to folklore.
Nadal’s competition with Roger Federer was a spectacle to witness. However, things have changed drastically over the years. Many new tennis stars have popped up in the scenario. Nadal is no more the undisputed king of tennis. His career has been plagued by repeated injuries.
The pandemic also played a role in hampering the smooth transition of Nadal back into the thick of the action. Fortunately for the fans, the king is looking as fit as ever in recent times. His stint in the ongoing Australian Open has been impressive so far.
Nadal defeated Denis Shapovalov to advance into the semi-finals of the grand slam. The match was not easy for Nadal at all. He had to grind till the last moment to ensure his victory. The game took four hours and five long sets to decide a winner.
Rafael Nadal will be appearing in his seventh Australian Open semis. Let us learn more about the story in detail below.
Rafael Nadal Wins As Shapovalov Complains
Rafael Nadal and Denis Shapovalov both had to grind themselves in the match. Nadal fought valiantly to win 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3. However, everything was not fine with Denis.
He lashed out at the umpires in the post-match press conference. Denis felt that Nadal has been given an undue advantage in the match.
Rafael Nadal was accused of taking unusually long breaks. He also took time off to address an ailment. All these things angered Denis significantly. He claimed that he had been robbed in the match. Nadal will play Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the semi-finals.
