Rafael Nadal said he was “sad” to be out of the Australian Open on Wednesday , depriving him of the chance to equal Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam titles, but credited “great opponent” Dominic Thiem after their four-set thriller.
The Spanish world number one was upset by the Austrian fifth seed in the quarter-finals, losing three tie-breakers as he went down 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) it a 4hrs 10mins marathon.
Federer is still in the tournament and plays Novak Djokovic for a place in the final today as the ageless Swiss hunts for a 21st Slam crown to pull further away from his old rival.
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“Of course, I am sad. I lost an opportunity to be in the semi-finals of another Grand Slam,” said Nadal. “But I lost against a great opponent. And he deserved it, too. Well done for him.”
Defeat also means Nadal, 33, must wait another year to try to become the first man in the Open era – and only the third in history – to win all four Major titles twice, after Roy Emerson and Rod Laver.
The Australian Open is his least successful Slam, having won just once in 2009, and he met his match in fellow baseliner Thiem.
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