Australian Open: ‘Speechless’ Tsitsipas knocks out Nadal, home girl Barty crashes out

STEFANOS Tsitsipas pulled off an astonishing and near unprecedented comeback at the Australian Open on Wednesday, knocking off Rafael Nadal to reach the men’s singles semi-finals. 

The Greek star appeared well on his way out after tamely losing the first two sets, but then rallied for a gritty 3-6 2-6 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5 victory at Rod Laver Arena. 

The epic contest lasted close to four hours but it is no stretch to say one shot might have turned things around — Nadal incredibly dumping an overhead long at 1-0 in the third-set tiebreak. 

Tsitsipas only faced one break point in the final three sets — in the last game — as he became just the second man to top Nadal at a Grand Slam after losing the first two sets. 

The other one? The player Nadal defeated in the last round, Fabio Fognini, at the 2015 US Open. 

“I’m speechless,” Tsitsipas said on court. “I have no words to describe what just happened. It’s an unbelievable feeling to be able to fight at such a level and just be able to give it my all on the court. 

“I started very nervous, I won’t lie, but I don’t know what happened after the third set. I just flied like a little bird, everything was working for me. The emotions at the end are indescribable.”

Nadal hadn’t relinquished a set prior to Wednesday’s quarterfinal and claimed 35 consecutive sets at majors prior to Tsitsipas’ huge comeback. 

Tsitsipas has now downed Nadal and Roger Federer (in 2019) at the Australian Open. 

Daniil Medvedev has reached his first Australian Open semi-final, the Russian joining countryman Aslan Karatsev in the last four after dispatching compatriot Andrey Rublev 7-5 6-3 6-2 in their high-stakes clash on Wednesday.

Medvedev, who has never lost to Rublev in four meetings, created the first break point of the match in the fourth game, and while he was unable to convert, another opportunity was just moments away, the 23-year-old Rublev capitulating in his next service game. 

In the women’s singles event, Karolina Muchova stunned world No.1 Ash Barty on Wednesday to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.

The world No.27 from the Czech Republic trailed 6-1 2-0 before staging a remarkable turnaround to beat the Australian 1-6 6-3 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Brady is fast making a habit of notching up Grand Slam semi-final appearances after seeing off fellow American Jessica Pegula in the women’s singles quarter-finals of Australian Open 2021 on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old’s belief is sky-high after she surged home 4-6 6-2 6-1 to book a showdown with Karolina Muchova, the comeback conqueror of top seed Ashleigh Barty.

ausopen.com.