Thiem stuns Nadal to reach first semi-final at Australian Open

Austria’s Dominic Thiem has stunned Rafael Nadal, world number one, in the 2020 Australian Open quarter final clash at the Rod Laver Arena.

In a grueling four hours 10 minutes duel on Wednesday, the Austrian dumped the world number one out of Melbourne in a four set thriller 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6.

Nadal’s hope of equaling Roger Federer’s record of 20 grand slam singles titles was shattered as the 26-year old’s victory earned him his fifth grand slam semi final spot.

THIEM's Time To 𝓢𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮!

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After 4 hours and 10 minutes, @ThiemDomi knocks out world No.1 Rafael Nadal, 7-6(3) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(6) to advance to the #AusOpen semifinals for the first time.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/lWuZXBzNmt

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2020

”All the match was on a very good level. We were both in good form,” an excited Thiem told Jim Courier, a former world no. 1, during an on-court interview.

“We already had this epic match (at the US Open) in New York two years ago and today I had a feeling I was lucky in the right situations. The net cord was on my side. He is one of the greatest of all time, so you do sometimes need luck to beat him.”

This is the second time they will be meeting on a hard court (12 of their 13 matches have been on clay and won by Nadal).

The world no. 5 will take on German’s Alexander Zverev, who earlier in his quarter final match against Stan Wawrinka, beat the Swiss.

The world no. 7 rallied back from a first set down to power home 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to sail into his first ever Grand Slam semi final.