Rafael Nadal outlasts Denis Shapovalov in a fiery five-set epic to reach Australian Open semi-finals

Rafael Nadal is into the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the seventh time of his career after battling past Denis Shapovalov 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena. The Canadian grew into the match, with Nadal recording the most double faults in a match in his career, but in the end the No 14 seed had no answer to the Spaniard’s superior serving and aggression from the baseline. Ad/> Nadal, who last won the Australian Open in 2009, will face either Gael Monfils or Matteo Berrettini in the last four.

Australian Open'You guys are all corrupt!' — Shapovalov in furious rant at Nadal and umpire2 HOURS AGO «I was completely destroyed after that,» he said afterwards. «Very tough. Very warm, Honestly I didn't practice for it.

I was a little bit lucky at the beginning of the fifth. I think at the beginning of the match I was playing great then I know how difficult it is to play a play like Denis. He is very talented.

»For me it is amazing to be in the semi-finals." The first set was routine for Nadal. The 20-time Grand Slam winner won 89 per cent of the points off his first serve and won it in 39 minutes, sealing the opener with an ace. The second set began with an angry exchange between Shapovalov and umpire Carlos Bernardes, criticising the Brazilian for not regulating Nadal’s time between points.

Bernardes was not impressed with the Canadian and the 22-year-old appeared to lose some focus. With both players locked at 3-3, an unforced error on Shapovalov’s backhand side handed Nadal a break point and the Spaniard capitalised with a smash at the net. Nadal would not be tested on his own serve and won his remaining service games.