Rafa Reaping Rewards Of Perseverance

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Rafael Nadal was digesting a shock five-set loss to Fernando Verdasco in the first round of the Australian Open. Today, after a sublime performance that saw him dismiss World No. 3 Milos Raonic in straight sets, Nadal is through to his first Grand Slam semi-final since winning Roland Garros in 2014.

It’s been a challenging couple of years for Nadal, whose health and injury struggles contributed to a lack of confidence on the court and on the big stages. He came into the 2017 Australian Open having brought his 2016 campaign to a premature end, following a first-round loss to Viktor Troicki at the Shanghai Rolex Masters in October.

Much hard work has taken place since then and the Mallorcan is reaping the rewards, having earned his place in the final four at Melbourne Park after victories over Alexander Zverev, Gael Monfils and Raonic.

“It’s good news, especially winning against difficult players: Monfils quarter-finals, Zverev round of 16, and now Raonic,” said Nadal. “I think all of them are top players. So that’s very important for me because that means that I am competitive and playing well.

“I’m just excited about being back in the final rounds of the most important events,” continued the left-hander, who is trying to win his 15^th major title. “I am here to try to make this. It’s always difficult, but I fought and I worked hard to try to make that happen.

“I’m very happy that after a lot of work I am in this round again. It’ a special thing for me, especially here in Australia. I have been playing and competing very well during the whole event. That’s very important for me.”

Nadal goes forward to a semi-final clash with Grigor Dimitrov, a clash he is certainly not taking lightly – “He’s a player that has an unbelievable talent, unbelievable potential. He started the season playing unbelievable. Is going to be a very tough match for me.” – but the question on many fans’ lips is: Will we see another Roger Federer – Rafael Nadal final?

The famous rivalry has not taken to the court since the 2015 Basel final, which Federer won in three sets, and not in a Grand Slam final since the 2011 Roland Garros championship match, which Nadal won in four sets. The pair contested the Australian Open final in 2009, with Nadal famously consoling a tearful Federer after prevailing in five sets.

Federer is set to face countryman Stan Wawrinka on Thursday after blasting his way through the top half of the draw, taking out Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori and Andy Murray’s conqueror, Mischa Zverev, to return to the semi-finals at Melbourne Park, where he is a four-time former champion. And no one is more pleased than Nadal to see his long-time rival excelling once again, having missed the second half of the 2016 season due to injury.

“Now I have a very tough match against Dimitrov. On the other side of the draw, I think it is great for tennis that Roger is there again after an injury, after a lot of people talk about always the same things, that probably he will never be back.

“The real thing is that he’s back and he’s probably ready to win again, fighting again to win a major. That’s the real thing, and that’s good for the fans because Roger is a legend of our sport. I am happy to be there, too. I am focused on my semi-final.”