Nadal broke down in tears after qualifying for the Australian Open final: “I spent many moments without seeing the light”

Rafael Nadal You are one step away from making history. At least to sign a new golden page of tennis. In a Australian Open marked by controversies and the controversy surrounding Novak Djokovic, the Spaniard will have one last hurdle to obtain the 21° Grand Slam of his career that could transform him into the most winner above Roger Federer and himself Nole. The Russian Daniil Medvedev will break into the final as the final step that he will have to overcome to lift the trophy.

The current number 5 in the ATP ranking beat the Italian Matteo Berrettini in semifinals (6-3, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3) and at 35 years He will have a new definition of Grand Slam in his career but with a special flavor after overcoming a series of injuries that had him mistreating in recent times. Even at the beginning of the road in Australia, he recognized that he has a chronic problem since his scaphoid is “split in half”.

Three years after his last final at the Australian Open and two years after his last Grand Slam crown (Roland Garros 2020), Rafa He could not hide his emotion when his arrival at the definition of the tournament that he could only win in 2009 was decreed: “For me it is a particularly exciting success. Perhaps more exciting than a victory, than a Grand Slam title because of how unexpected everything is, because of everything we’ve been through in recent months. Three weeks ago we saw it very difficult to be where we are today. I spent many difficult moments, without seeing the light. There were many conversations with the team, the family, about what could happen if things continued like this… That maybe it was time to say goodbye “.

* Rafael Nadal’s statements after the victory in the semifinals

The Spaniard began his journey against the American Marcos Giron (6-1, 6-4 and 6-2), continued against the German Yannick Hanfmann (6-2, 6-3 and 6-4), then beat the Russian Karen Khachanov (6-3, 6-2, 3-6 and 6-1) before getting the ticket to the quarterfinals with a win over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (7-6, 6-2 and 6-2). Finally, he had to run from his way to the Canadian Denis Shapovalov (6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6 and 6-3) to land in the semifinals.

“I cannot complain, especially in these times with many people dying in the world. My months are not difficult compared to those that many families have spent losing their own. That is difficult, not what I went through.” expressed Nadal, who could not hide his tears on the court as he tried to hide his eyes inside the bag.

Medvedev is number 2 in the current ranking at 25 years old and is the leader of the Next Gen, with recent great successes after conquering the 2020 ATP Finals2 and raising the crown of his first Grand Slam at the 2021 US Open. this tournament will pocket $2.8 million.

“For me it can be many things, but it is the Australian Open, I don’t think beyond it. I have been very lucky in my career. In 2009 I was lucky to win the title, who would have thought that I would be in a new final in 2022?”, said the native of Mallorca. “I don’t know if it will be my last chance or not. A short time ago it seemed that there would be no other opportunity and now we are here. If you ask me what’s at stake, I don’t know. I understand that they are with the theme of the best in history, all these things, but even winning on Sunday does not mean that I am going to be the best in history at the end of my career. It’s a Grand Slam, it would be an important step in my career, but at the end of 20 to 21 it doesn’t change that much either. It is a reality,” he added.

“I understand everything that moves behind and everything that needs to be written, I am no stranger to it, It would be very nice and important for me, but really, I would be very excited, but I don’t think it will change my life. It is my reality. If I win, of course it will give me peace of mind and momentary happiness, but life will go on”, he also declared at a press conference.

THE BEST POINTS OF NADAL’S TRIUMPH

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