Rafael Nadal did not make it to the semifinals of Brisbane ATP 250 after defeating 5-7, 7-6(4) and 6-3 against Jordan Thompson in quarter finals in a fight about three and a half hours which was bent in the final stretch of the second set. In a tough test, Nadal was unable to close out the match in that second set, where he had three match pointsand ended with the loss and the physical hip problems that kept him out of the fight last year.
That image of Nadal will go to the locker room with a 4-1 down in the third set is another one of the notes of the meeting, despite the fact that Rafa returned after the visit to be brutal and without showing problems in their movements. The Spaniard was much accused on the moral level of that fact having three match-balls minutes before: with Nadal 5-4 and Thompson serving and it’s 6-4 for the Spaniard in the tie-break in the second set. So, what could have been a film-making game and with good sensations for Rafa to respond to the difficult test from the back of the Australian court turned into a painful defeat because of the method but useful because of the speed shown some. Australian Open day.
@Rafael Nadal 👏#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/A5C69RJDXi
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 5, 2024
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Until the decisive tie-break in the second set, it was looking up to a Nadal at a high level from the back court, both forehand and backhand, with an accurate first serve and struggling more on the second. But the Spaniard was able to go up another point when Thompson demanded it, enduring a long exchange from the back of the court and commanding with his serve.
The Spaniard began to serve with ease, placing first so that Thompson could not read his serve in the early stages of the match which was uncomfortable. However, the Australian continued to serve, even saving 0-30 in the fifth game, trying to get the court at the slightest opportunity. Released from the backhand, the Australian reached 3-3, where he managed to break the Spaniard’s serve, losing for the first time in the tournament to go 3-4 down. however, Nadal immediately responded, recovering the break by throwing his forehand, forcing himself to go up 6-5 and saw how the Australian showed his nerves in the twelfth game full of mistakes: 7-5 for the Spaniard and first set in the pocket.
But Thompson did not fade in the second race, where he continued to hold on from the bottom and affected others. Nadal saved a break point in the third game, he responded by going up another three when the Australian served in the fourth. With both of them holding their serve from the first few minutes, it was even a 5-4 for Nadal, with a match point to spare. He couldn’t convert it so the match went to a tie-break, where Thompson neutralized 3-0 and 6-4 fights to sign 8-6 in his favor where he forced a third set: two more match points were raised for three in total.
@jordanthommmo2 saved 3 match points to defeat Nadal on his comeback 5-7 7-6 6-3 and reach the last 4 in Brisbane#BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/4r5IMtYCfP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 5, 2024
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Nadal blamed the missed opportunities, although he also did it physically after an extension of a marathon that saw him a step behind physically in the third set. In the fourth game of the set, The Australian broke the Spaniard’s serve to take a 3-1 lead. while, Nadal raised the alarm moments later by placing his hand on the injured area last year, the iliopsoas. He went to the locker room and I was able to keep up as the match continued, he responded to his rival’s exchanges, challenging Thompson to hold his serve to secure the victory. The Australian also answered, signing 6-3 in his favor to enter the semifinals and leave the Spaniards in the tournament.
@Rafael Nadal #BrisbaneTennis pic.twitter.com/V2ZRHzyrh8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 5, 2024
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In this way, Thompson will meet Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinalswhile Nadal, who remains around 450th in the rankings, is looking to the Australian Open by filming three matches in Brisbane in singles and the match played in doubles. The sensations have been good, hoping that these discomforts will not worsenwith the fluidity the Spaniard lacked to close out the game when he had it in hand.
Source: La Verdad
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