HOT and bothered Rafael Nadal will not equal Roger Federers Grand Slam record in Melbourne after crashing out of the Australian Open quarter-finals.
The world No1 was desperate to stand alongside Federer in the Slam pantheon on Sunday evening he has spent his whole career chasing his Swiss rival but those hopes were cruelly dashed by the inspired Dominic Thiem.
As Nadal lost his composure over a time warning and also felt hot under the collar, the Austrian played the match of his life, progressing 7-6 7-6 4-6 7-6 in a thrilling four-hour-ten-minute clash on the Rod Laver Arena.
Nadal, 33, will remain stranded on 19 majors one shy of Aussie Open semi-finalist Federer and his best chance of drawing level will come on his favoured clay court home of Roland Garros.
That, of course, is if Federer doesnt do the unthinkable and beat Novak Djokovic and then win a seventh title Down Under.
Of the four Grand Slams, this is the one that has caused Nadal the most issues and it is 11 years since he lifted his one and only Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
But credit to Thiem who played magnificently throughout, especially in the three tie-breaks.
He said: The whole match was on a good level, and we were both in good form. We had this epic match in New York two years ago. I had a feeling I would be lucky. The net cord was on my side.
“He is one of the greatest all time, one of the biggest legends this sport has had, and you need luck to beat him.
It came to 5-4, a special situation, I am serving for the match against Rafa for my first semi-final at the Australian Open, and it mentally tough situation. I couldnt handle it, but turned it around in the tie-breaker.
I am happy I won the tie break otherwise we would be in a fifth now. I feel good so far. I am full of adrenaline and happy moments, so we will see when that is off, how I feel tomorrow.”
It was brutal, it was electrifying and the tennis at times was some of the best we had witnessed this tournament.
Thiem, who lost the French Open final to Nadal last May, served magnificently throughout and was up for it from the very beginning.
The 26-year-old could have buckled when he faced set point on Nadals serve in the ninth game of the opening set but he survived and then won the tie-breaker comfortably.
Nadal became increasingly rattled in the second set and started to lose control.
The turning point was the time violation he received from no-nonsense chair umpire Aurelie Tourte after he took too long to serve, letting the 25-second shot clock time out.
The fuming Mallorca star argued with Tourte, saying: Its really amazing after this point you are able to put the clock straight. You dont like good tennis.
Nadal was also visibly sweating amid hot and humid conditions and the air con unit next to his chair was not working for the first two sets.
Though he won the third set, punching the air repeatedly in celebration, it ended up being a mere consolation in the context of this match.
No5 seed Thiem, who could have easily crumbled after being broken when serving for the match, held his nerve in the fourth set tie-break and secured one of the biggest results of his career.
Next up is German Alex Zverev in the semi-finals in Melbourne on Friday meaning that one of them will be in the Australian Open final for the first time.
To make matters worse for Nadal, he will lose his status as the best in the world if Djokovic wins an eighth singles crown.
For the latest Australian Open odds, check out Betway Tennis.
