Summary

  • Rafael Nadal beats Milos Raonic 6-4 7-6 (9-7) 6-4

  • Spaniard faces Dimitrov - his first Grand Slam semi-final since 2014

  • Serena Williams beats Johanna Konta 6-2 6-3 in last eight

  • Williams next plays Lucic-Baroni, who beat Pliskova 6-4 3-6 6-4

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    #bbctennis

    I've opened a can of worms. Hot Tub Time Machine... it turns out you all love it. Next you'll be telling me you all like Coldplay.

    Ped McKinstry: Slags off Hot Tub Time Machine... *Begins search for new tennis update provider*

    Robert Leon Felix: Just to confirm "Hot tub Time Machine" was & is a great film.

    Andy Lawrence: Ok great maybe a bit strong but defiantly not the worst ever, have you seen snakes on a plane?! 

  2. 'Nadal the retriever'published at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Simon Briggs
    Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Nadal is one of the hardest players to end a point against. He's probably up there with Bjorn Borg, the two best clay-court players of all time.

    Rafa NadalImage source, EPA
  3. Postpublished at 10:02 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 3-4 Raonic

    This set has tie-break written all over it (cue immediate break of serve).

    Raonic slugs his way through the first two points but Nadal's defence is masterful and forces  wide forehand from the Canadian.

    Big ace x2 = Raonic hold.

  4. Postpublished at 09:59 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Nadal 6-4 3-3 Raonic*

    No Kinesio tape or strapping on the hulking body of Raonic to give a clue to the location of his discomfort.

    Both men are nose-to-nose at the net as Nadal drops a dink over the tape and Raonic crashes his forehand against the cord.

    Raonic deserves more from this point, cutting in a backhand volley and then failing to land the follow-up forehand.

    Nadal holds but is muttering to himself.

  5. Postpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 2-3 Raonic

    Rafa bounces around to keep the muscles and ligaments flexed, before sitting down with a towel draped over his head.

    Here comes Milos, swigging ice cold water as he re-emerges.

    We're back on court and ready to go.

  6. Medical treatment for Raonicpublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 2-3 Raonic

    Nadal is back out but Raonic is technically now taking a medical time out.

    He's off the court though so we can't see what injury the Canadian is struggling with.

    Raonic talks to his trainerImage source, Reuters
  7. Postpublished at 09:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 2-3 Raonic

    We may get a bit more time to chat about terrible films, as both men nip down the tunnel to spend a penny.

    Raonic went first. Rafa waited a few moments and decided he needed to go too.

    Rafa Nadal goes for a comfort breakImage source, Reuters
  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    #bbctennis

    Andy Lawrence: Hot tub time machine was a great film

    I respect all opinions across the whole spectrum. But you're testing that ethos here, Andy

  9. Postpublished at 09:48 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 2-3 Raonic

    This set has the feel of one that could go the distance as Raonic hauls his 6ft 5in monster truck of a body to the corner for a forehand winner.

    Nadal passes down the line but it's the only highlight of the game for the Spaniard as Raonic coasts.

  10. Postpublished at 09:46 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Nadal 6-4 2-2 Raonic*

    Nadal's eyes are like lasers, tracking the ball all the way as he clips over a low backhand volley.

    And my word - this backhand crosscourt winner is straight out of the 2010 Rafa play book. We're rolling back the years on Rod Laver.

  11. 'Raonic ruffled by Rafa'published at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Simon Briggs
    Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Raonic is not much of a talker on court, he usually resembles a waxwork, but he's been aggravated by the way Rafa is bringing the play to him and is picking on his serve.

    Milos RaonicImage source, Getty Images
  12. Nadal receives time warningpublished at 09:41 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 1-2 Raonic

    A reminder on the rules for time taken between points.

    You're not supposed to take longer than 20 seconds. Rafa is averaging 27 seconds, and now has an official warning.

    Another warning would see him drop a point.

    It's not bothering him though as Nadal steps into his Hot Tub Time Machine (worst film ever) to pull off a pair of vintage winners.

    But a forehand is marginally off target and then he hits a return into the net for a Milos hold.

  13. Postpublished at 09:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Nadal 6-4 1-1 Raonic*

    Raonic lumps a backhand volley too long and then can't retrieve a serve to finally surrender the game.

    Plenty more bite from Raonic on the Rafa serve there - he can take heart.

  14. Postpublished at 09:35 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 0-1 Raonic

    Hmmm. Not enough wrist on this forehand from Nadal and it's wide - Raonic's first break point.

    A verbal warning for Rafa as he takes ages lining up this crucial serve - it makes him angry and he unleashes a non-returnable bullet.

    Has he held? This forehand is called in... Milos challenges and it was a couple of inches long. Bad call.

    Stunning reflex volley puts him back to advantage. Deuce again from a Raonic overhead....

  15. 'Rafa renaissance'published at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Simon Briggs
    Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    We seem to have entered a time capsule. It has been a a bizarre experience to see four players in the semi-finals who are all in their mid-30s.

    Rafa is only 30 but it feels like he is in the mid-30s given the amount of tennis he has played.

    We have seen a Rafa renaissance since he hired Carlos Moya as coach.

    Carlos MoyaImage source, Reuters
  16. Postpublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 6-4 0-1 Raonic (* next to serve)

    Raonic takes body serve to its literal meaning by banging one right at the torso of Nadal.

    Nadal skips across like a spring lamb to a forehand that Raonic can't handle, but disappointment as he crashes a rising ball into the net to give the Canadian the hold.

  17. Postpublished at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Nadal 6-4 0-0 Raonic*

    The key stat from that first set?

    Unforced errors: Rafa - 2, Raonic - 10

    Milos RaonicImage source, Getty Images
  18. Game and first setpublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Nadal 6-4 Raonic*

    Does Nadal have the steel of old to see this set out?

    Into the net with a drop-shot volley winner. Vintage.

    Raonic backhand into the net. Sloppy.

    Insideout forehand winner. Classic.

    Overhead smasharooney. Set.

  19. Postpublished at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    *Nadal 5-4 Raonic

    Raonic needs some home comforts and they are - three whizz-bang aces.

    Nadal finally has it sussed and slaps back a crosscourt forehand winner.

    So Milos mullers another ace. It's tried and tested and wins the game.

    Milos Raonic servesImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 09:12 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2017

    Nadal 5-3 Raonic*

    Nadal can't dally on this advantage - and he doesn't intend to.

    A forehand drops on to the sideline - you could not have placed the ball down in a better position - for 30-0.

    Raonic opts to attack and cuts out a slice backhand with a volley winner.

    A serve out wide doesn't come back and another is parried into the net - comfortable hold.