Nadal saves break points for deucepublished at 05:41 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2022
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-3 Shapovalov
And again!
Ooh, that'll annoy Shapovalov. Deuce.
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*Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-3 Shapovalov
And again!
Ooh, that'll annoy Shapovalov. Deuce.
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-3 Shapovalov
Out wide goes Nadal, and Shapovalov bunts his backhand long.
30-40. Another chance for Shapovalov...
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-3 Shapovalov
That's a big second serve from Nadal, and Shapovalov can't get his racquet on it.
15-30... oh, but that's a double fault from Nadal! And it's two break points to Shapovalov!
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-3 Shapovalov
Rafa Nadal is all ready to serve, and then has to stop because the umpire has left his walkie-talkie on! Whoops.
Nadal resets and then watches a thudding Shapovalov forehand go past him for 0-30. Trouble...
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-3 Shapovalov
This is speeding along quite nicely now as a Shapovalov ace wraps up another hold to 15.
Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-2 Shapovalov*
Rafael Nadal blitzes his way through a love service game as the clock ticks over the two hour mark.
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 1-2 Shapovalov
Shapovalov's first serve is going through a brief wobbly period, but he's able to draw a couple of errors out of the Nadal forehand to keep his nose in front.
Nadal 6-3 6-4 1-1 Shapovalov*
Shapovalov slaps his racquet as he gets a look at a Nadal second serve and can only send it into the net.
Nadal unfurls a glorious backhand winner to pass Shapovalov and wrap up a hold to 15.
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 0-1 Shapovalov
It is worth pointing out that Nadal was two sets up on Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals last year, before the Greek mounted an almighty comeback to win.
This doesn't quite have that same feel, though Shapovalov does well to dig himself out of a 0-30 hole.
Nadal 6-3 6-4 Shapovalov*
Oh, here he is!
Nadal 6-3 6-4 Shapovalov*
We appear to have lost Rafael Nadal.
Nadal 6-3 6-4 Shapovalov*
Denis Shapovalov will serve to start the third set.
Nadal 6-3 6-4 Shapovalov
Denis Shapovalov is going to have to do this the hard way.
Rafa Nadal has got a foot firmly in the Australian Open semi-finals.
*Nadal 6-3 5-4 Shapovalov
Shapovalov throws his head back in frustration as he dictates a point, pushing Nadal into the wrong position, and then drags his forehand into the net.
Big cross-court winner from Nadal and it brings him two set points.
*Nadal 6-3 5-4 Shapovalov
That's a good battle back from Shapovalov, first with a volley then an ace to hold and ask the question of Nadal.
Nadal 6-3 5-3 Shapovalov*
Great backhand from Shapovalov!
Deuce.
Nadal 6-3 5-3 Shapovalov*
Oh, ouch.
Shapovalov throws in his second double fault of the game and gifts Nadal a set point in the process.
Nadal 6-3 5-3 Shapovalov*
Shapovalov swings down an ace before Nadal eats up a second serve with aplomb.
30-30.
Nadal 6-3 5-3 Shapovalov*
A big serve from Shapovalov, followed up by a double fault.
15-15.
Nadal 6-3 5-3 Shapovalov*
Shapovalov produces a stunning return of serve and then watches an equally stunning volley from Nadal drop in front of him. Ouch.
Shapovalov shakes his head and then plants a forehand into the net to help Nadal over the line.