Title: Nadal’s Quarterfinal Upset and Sabalenka-Azarenka Clash Highlight Brisbane International Drama
In a stunning turn of events at the Brisbane International, Rafael Nadal faced a heartbreaking defeat in the quarterfinals against Jordan Thompson. The 22-time major winner, on his comeback after a year-long injury layoff, missed three match points before succumbing to the relentless play of the 55th-ranked Thompson, who clinched a hard-fought victory with a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-3 scoreline. With the Australian Open just around the corner, Nadal’s rehabilitation from a hip injury and surgery will face a rigorous test.
Nadal, 37, displayed resilience in earlier straight-sets victories over Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler. However, his energy visibly waned in the quarterfinal, especially in the third set, where he required a medical timeout for his upper left leg. Despite returning to the court, Nadal couldn’t overcome Thompson’s determined play and bid farewell to Pat Rafter Arena around midnight.
Thompson’s reward is a semifinal clash against second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov, a former Brisbane International champion. Meanwhile, top-seeded Holger Rune secured a semifinal spot with a 6-2, 7-6 (6) win over James Duckworth, setting up a showdown against Roman Safiullin.
In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant form with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Daria Kasatkina. Sabalenka’s 14-match winning streak Down Under sets up a highly anticipated semifinal against fellow Belarusian and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.
Azarenka faced a tough challenge in her quarterfinal, needing 2 1/2 hours to overcome former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 scoreline. The semifinal clash between Sabalenka and Azarenka promises to be a compelling battle between two accomplished players who share a common origin and have met four times previously at the elite level.
As the Brisbane International unfolds with unexpected twists and high-stakes matchups, tennis enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the climax of this prelude to the Australian Open, where both veterans and rising stars are leaving their mark on the court.