World

Rafael Nadal: Spaniard bows out of Australian Open after defeat to Thiem

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 4:01 PM by Rahaman Abiola

- Rafael Nadal will have to wait to equal Roger Federer's record after crashing out of the Australian Open

- The Spanish tennis legend was defeated by Australian Dominic Thiem 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (8-6)

- The encounter was not the first one both tennis star will meet as both had met in last two French Open finals

Rafael Nadal has bowed out of the Australian Open after suffering a stunning defeat to Dominic Thiem in a thrilling quarter-final match in Melbourne.

The Spanish tennis star beat Nick Krygios in the fourth-round but could not replicate his dominance against Thiem on Wednesday, January 29.

Nadal, a top seed player and favourite, was stunned in the four-set thriller with 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (8-6) despite having a beautiful start into the encounter.

The defeat means Nadal will have to wait before equalling Roger Federer's all-time record of 20 Grand Slam trophies as he has 19 to his name.

Read also

Singer Justin Bieber asked to leave gym because fellow star Taylor Swift wanted to train

The encounter was not the first time both tennis stars will meet as both had met twice during French Open finals, with the Spanish coming out victorious.

Thiem has never reached the last eight of the tournament before but a victory over Nadal has given him a good chance of winning his first grand slam title.

"It was a mentally tough situation but I turned it around again in the tie-breaker," emotional Thiem said after the thiller.

''That was a special situation for me, serving against Rafa for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time.

“Today I was really feeling I was lucky in the right situations. The net cord was really on my side,'' the victorious Australian said.

PAY ATTENTION: Become a member of the leading sports Facebook group 'Naija Football Fan Zone

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that American tennis superstar, Serena Williams, broke a three-year deadlock and won her first major trophy since becoming a mom on Saturday night, January 12, with a resounding victory over Jessica Pegula in New Zealand.