MELBOURNE, Australia - Rafael Nadal defended Denis Shapovalov to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the seventh time in a four-hour, five-set match, saying he almost felt "destroyed".
After breaking his racket on hard court in despair at the end of a 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 loss, Shapovalov said he felt like Nadal got special treatment.
There were plenty of momentum-shifting moments on hot Tuesday at the Rod Laver Arena, with Nadal needing treatment for a stomach ailment after dominating the first 2½ sets.
Meanwhile, Shapovalov openly complained to chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during the quarter-final match that Nadal gets more breaks than players usually do, and takes too long between points.
"I respect everything Rafa does, and I think he's an incredible player. But, you know, there have to be some limits, there are some rules," Shapovalov said. "It's very frustrating as a player. You feel like you're not just playing against the player, you're playing against the umpires, you're playing against a lot more."
None of this changed the fact that Nadal is one step closer in his bid for a men's record 21st Grand Slam singles title.
The 35-year-old Spaniard shares a record of 20 men's major singles titles with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Neither of them is in Melbourne: Federer is recovering from knee surgery, and nine-time champion Djokovic was relegated for failing to meet Australia's COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
In a tournament where he has won the title only once (2009) and has lost seven of his last 13 quarterfinals – his worst conversion rate in any of the four major tournaments – Nadal looked weak in the third and fourth sets.
But after a seven-minute break - when Nadal left the court and headed into the locker room - between the end point of the fourth set and his first serve in the fifth, he was well enough to save a break point with an ace. Went, serve and then broke Shapovalov in the decider for a 2-0 lead.
"I don't know, it was a small miracle," Nadal said of his resurrection. "I was honestly physically destroyed. But my serve worked well and for me every game I was winning with my serve was a win, no?"
He rejected any claims that he received any special treatment from umpires or referees, and said that Shapovalov was young and that he would overrule it.
"I sincerely feel sorry for him. I think he played a great match for a long time," Nadal said. "Of course it's hard to accept losing a match like this, especially when I was feeling destroyed and maybe he felt that way, and then I was able to win.
"I wish him the best of luck... maybe he'll understand later when he thinks right that maybe he wasn't right today."
Nadal had several medical timeouts in the four-hour match, but Shapovalov was particularly upset that Nadal was allowed to serve and given a break before the fifth set.
"I mean, that's why it was a big break after the fourth set, and the momentum goes away," Shapovalov said. "...every other match I've played, the pace is so fast because the referees are on the clock after every single point. This one, I mean, it was like an hour and a half after the first two sets just because he had to So much dragged on after a point.
"He has put so much time between the sets and all this. It just gets dragged on."
Shapovalov later said: "It's definitely emotional, but I stand by my side. I think it's unfair, you know, how far Rafa is getting."
Nadal said he took "some extra time" at the end of the first and second sets to change his clothes, but added that he doesn't get any extra treatment.
"I really believe that sometimes - it's always in the mind that the top players get the big advantage, no, and honestly that's not true on the court, no?" Nadal said. "That's my feeling. I never felt that I had advantages in court, and I truly believe he is wrong on that matter."
Nadal held the break through the fifth set and when it ended, he went to the corner and shook his head a few times.
Shapovalov left the racket scattered on the court.
Nadal said, "I was completely destroyed. Tough day. Very hot." "At the start of the match I was playing well. Dennis is very talented, very aggressive. He was serving great - especially the second serve.
"I think at the start of the third I had my chances. I didn't get it. I started feeling a little more tired. For me, being in the semi-finals is amazing."
Nadal will have two days off before his semi-final against seventh seed Matteo Berrettini on Friday. The Wimbledon runner-up, who became the first Italian to reach an Australian Open semi-final, defeated No. 17 Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2.
"I'm not 21 anymore!" Nadal said. "After that... it was great to have two days off. I felt pretty good physically. At least it was a great test. I really believe I'm going to be ready for the semi-finals."