Nadal out of Australian Open
January 27, 2015
Rafael Nadal's bid to land a first Australian Open title since 2009 was abruptly ended by Tomas Berdych in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The 14-time major winner was beaten in straight sets 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) by the Czech No.7 seed, who will now play in his second consecutive Australian Open semifinal.
Nadal had been quick to reference his recent return from a long injury lay-off all week in Melbourne and his lack of match practise appeared to take its toll against Berdych.
He lost nine consecutive games and the solitary eight games he took off the towering Czech represents his second worst match ever at a Grand Slam tournament.
"I am feeling okay; it was just not my day. I didn't play with the right intensity, with the right rhythm, and the opponent played better than me," Nadal admitted.
Berdych, who snapped the Spaniard's 17-game winning streak over him in the process, has yet to lose a set at this year's tournament and will face Great Britain's Andy Murray in the last four.
"I was definitely ready for it and set up my plan pretty well and I stuck with that through those three sets," said Berdych. "I was expecting a very tough battle but I was ready for everything and I think that was the biggest thing from the past matches with Rafa."
Nadal made 26 unforced errors and had no answer to his opponent's powerful returns; Berdych hit 46 winners in setting up a date with Murray - a former pupil of his coach Dani Vallverdu.
"When it's done, it's done. But there is a still long way to go in this tournament and I need to be ready for it."
Murray, Sharapova ease through
Meanwhile, Andy Murray extended his perfect record against Australian opponents to 11-0 as he overcame the unseeded local hero Nick Kyrgios in assured style, winning in straights sets 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
In the women's singles on Tuesday, Maria Sharapova moved closer to her first Australian Open title since 2008 by defeating 20-year-old Eugenie Bouchard from Canada 6-3, 6-2.The Russian made all the big points look easy to set up an all-Russian semifinal with Ekaterina Makarova, who earlier beat third-seeded Simona Halep 6-4, 6-0.
Wednesday will be all about the Williams sisters in Melbourne, with No.1 seed Serena facing Dominika Cibulkova and No.18 Venus hoping to overcome her compatriot Madison Keys to set up a mouth-watering semifinal.
Men's top seed Novak Djokavic will take on Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka meets US Open finalist Kei Nishikori in the remaining quaterfinals on Wednesday.
apc / ph (AP, AFP)