As Rafael Nadal initiated another run at the Australian Open, he was as curious as anyone else about how well his game and body would serve him. He had endured a six-month layoff due to a chronic foot injury and a tough bout of Covid, and arrived in Melbourne having barely spent time on court in the preceding weeks. The hope, he said, was that he would keep himself in the tournament long enough to continue improving.
He maintained his presence on Tuesday but it took all he had. He led Denis Shapovalov by two sets, only for the Canadian to pull Nadal all the way back into a desperate fifth set. After four hours, Nadal rose to win 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 and reach his seventh semi-final here.
