Rafael Nadal, returning from a foot injury, keeps record bid in sights

MELBOURNE, January 25

Rafael Nadal drew within two wins of a record 21st Grand Slam title today after claiming a five-set thriller against Denis Shapovalov to grind into the Australian Open semifinals for a seventh time.

We can create histories...but the real truth is that two months ago, we didn't know if we will be able to be back on Tour at all Rafa Nadal

On a steamy afternoon at Rod Laver Arena, Nadal suffered a huge scare as Shapovalov roared back from two sets down but the warrior Spaniard found another gear in the decider to prevail 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3.

"I was completely destroyed after that," Nadal said on-court after the match, which lasted four hours and eight minutes. "It's amazing, honestly, to be in the semifinals...for me it's everything to be able to play one more time here in the Rod Laver Arena."

Nadal narrowly avoided a repeat of last year's quarterfinals exit in Melbourne when he was sent packing by Stefanos Tsitsipas after taking a two-set lead.

Two months ago, the sixth seed wondered whether his career was finished as he struggled to come back from a foot injury, but he will now prepare for his 36th Grand Slam semifinal against Matteo Berrettini, who found a higher gear in the face of a heroic fightback from Gael Monfils to script a 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-2 win and become the first Italian man to reach the Australian Open semifinals.

Comeback kid on the block

Having wallowed in a "deep, dark pit of despair" last season, Madison Keys booked her first Grand Slam semifinals spot in four years with a 6-3 6-2 upset of Barbora Krejcikova.

Keys' renaissance after a dismal 2021 season has lit up Melbourne Park this year, and at a baking hot Rod Laver Arena

fourth seed Krejcikova became another casualty of the American's new-found confidence and traditional firepower.

Keys told an on-court interviewer she thought she might cry. "It means a lot. Last year was really hard and I did everything that I could with my team to just really reset this off-season and focus on starting fresh and new and really just starting from zero and not worrying about last year. Wow, that's gone well so far. I'm really proud of myself," Keys said.

Meanwhile, World No. 1 Ash Barty is within two victories of winning her home Grand Slam after blitzing Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-0 in just over an hour. — Reuters

Djokovic’s fortunes to turn in City of Lights?

Paris: Top-ranked player Novak Djokovic could be allowed to defend his French Open title under the latest Covid-19 rules adopted by the French government, even if he is still not vaccinated when the claycourt Grand Slam starts in May. Djokovic was deported from Australia and barred from playing in the Australian Open this month for not meeting the country's strict Covid-19 vaccination rules. It initially appeared that the Serb would not be welcomed at Roland Garros either under a new law intended to exclude the unvaccinated. Under the law that took effect on Monday, anyone who has proof they tested positive within the previous six months is exempt from having to show a vaccine pass. AP