The 20-time Major champion Rafael Nadal experienced one of the toughest career losses on Wednesday, wasting a massive advantage against Stefanos Tsitsipas to fall 3-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the Australian Open quarter-final.
Nadal had a massive advantage after the opening two sets, playing on a high level on both serve and return and moving closer to the finish line after another reliable performance behind the initial shot in the third. Unlike in the opening two sets, Tsitsipas played on the level terms with the Spaniard in the third, delivering one good hold after another and never looking back in his games to mount the pressure on the other side.
Nadal sprayed two smash errors in the third set's tie break that would cost him dearly, losing it 7-4 and suffering two breaks in the rest of the clash to propel Tsitsipas through. It was Nadal's third career loss from two sets to love lead, and the seven-time Major champion Mats Wilander believes the Spaniard will return stronger during the clay season, knowing he was playing well and that it was a mighty close encounter.
"Rafa will probably be off for two or three weeks. I think the fact that he can't win the Australian Open after that lone 2009 crown, I think he's going to shrug it off and realize, 'maybe I wasn't strong enough physically to keep this level up.' He was going for big shots; that's not him, and it didn't work.
Rafa will return to the practice court, hit some balls and realize that he is at the same level as the last year's Roland Garros. He played great against Tsitsipas, and it was bad luck that he couldn't cross the finish line first," Mats Wilander said.
Just In
Popular News
