It sees the tournament edge closer to a dream final between old rivals Nadal and Roger Federer, who plays Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals tomorrow.
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Raonic said it flared again during the Brisbane International, when he bowed out in the semi-finals, earlier this month.
But Djokovic no longer looms in the semifinals.
“That’s why I’m more confident and I win some more matches”.
Raonic, though, wasn’t able to provide many difficulties. Nadal sank to his knees in ecstasy, then rose to leap into the air, perhaps just to show that he still can.
“Even when I was winning I had doubts and even more so when I had injuries. He’s been in trouble before, but he’s solved it”.
Nevertheless, Raonic had a very good chance to draw even in the middle set, but failed to produce any magic on his set points.
Raonic on seeking first major championship: “It sort of crosses your mind”. I keep fighting with positive attitude.
“I feel like it was really good for me to win on probably not my best day”, Williams said of her wayward serve. Following wins over Dustin Brown, Gilles Muller, and Gilles Simon, the Canadian broke Roberto Bautista Agut five times on Monday on the way to a 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory. “From there on, in the third I had opportunities, but I made some important mistake, especially one when he was at the limit and it was time to tighten and define”.
He also did a wonderful job of keeping Raonic from striking his lethal inside-out forehand. “I didn’t take care of my serve”.
“I think I had a great career but at the same time I had a lot of tough moments”, Nadal told Jim Courier on the court after the match. He won the title three weeks ago in Brisbane, Australia. “I was beaten “in just” 18 matches”. Unfortunately that was it for me today. “But probably tomorrow I will be a bit better, and hopefully after tomorrow flawless”, Nadal said. To be in the semi-final means too much to me right now.
Nadal being in the semifinal is “good news” after coming off injuries in the back half of 2016 and having to beat some of the world’s top players – Zverev, Gael Monfrils and now Raonic – to reach the final four. “He has one of the top two serves and can play so aggressive on the return”.
Ninth seed Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, defeated the sixth-seeded Monfils 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena in nearly three hours and will play Canada’s world number three Milos Raonic in the quarters.
“That’s the plan. Obviously for me, it’s always up to health”.
While Roger Federer is showing glimpses of his vintage past at the Melbourne Arena, Rafael Nadal is going about announcing his comeback in his own style. “Then after that I think I rushed in that tiebreaker”. I’ll try my best to be ready to play the first match.
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“I have absolutely nothing to lose in this tournament”, Williams said. “I’m sure there would be some obligations here 24 hours after the final; it’s not like you leave that night”.
