How it happened in Oz: Fortune favors the bold—Thiem outslugs Nadal

Dominic Thiem outlasted world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6), in four hours and 10 minutes to win their quarterfinal showdown at the Australian Open on Wednesday evening in Melbourne. The world No. 5 will meet first-time major semifinalist Alexander Zverev on Friday.

Read below to see how Thiem pulled out the win over the 2009 champion.

On the outcome of the match:

"I honestly didn’t play a bad match. My attitude was great. Fighting spirit, positive, [didn't] give up. It’s just difficult to play against him... I had a big chance with 5-3 in the first. I think I had set point serving. Was a very important moment of the match for sure."

On his history with Thiem:

"I think he played great matches against me in the past, too. He played great quality tennis. I think we like each other in terms of character. I like his attitude. Probably he likes mine, too. We have things that we can compare each other in some way."

Getty Images

On the quality of the encounter:

"I was a break down in both sets. The [first] two tiebreaks, I really played well. All the match was on a really good level. Were both on great form, I think. We already had this epic match in New York two years ago and today, I really had a feeling I was lucky in the right situations. The net cord was really on my side. It's necessary because he's one of the greatest of all time, biggest legends this sport has ever had, so you need some luck to beat him."

On not serving out the contest at 5-4 in the fourth:

"When it came to 5-4, it was a special situation for me serving for the match against Rafa for my first semifinal here at the Australian Open. Such a really mentally tough situation. I couldn't handle it, but turned it around again in the tiebreaker." (slight laughter)

On his first major hard-court semifinal against Zverev:

"I think it's the first time I'm playing a Grand Slam semifinal and I'm the older player. We're great friends. I'm really happy that he plays his first semifinal. Of course, we're both going to try our best. We've played twice in the French Open, so we know how it is to play against each other in a Grand Slam. It's going to be an amazing atmosphere here."

Getty Images

Thiem served his way out of trouble in his opening trip to the line, wiping away three break points to hold for 1-1. It turned out to be a significant shift, as Thiem broke in the next game when his backhand slice drew a forehand shank from the 19-time major champion. Nadal, who has shown signs of dissatisfaction throughout the match, smacked his leg in disgust after that series of events. As he held to keep with Thiem, the Austrian stayed a step in front. His redirection, particularly when squaring up for the forehand down the line, remained awe-inspiring, even raising an eyebrow across the net.

As he always does, Nadal refused to give it to his opponent. He recovered from 0-30 down to hold for 3-4, eliciting another “Vamos!” as he walked to his bench. He then held to reach 4-5, shifting the pressure of closing to Thiem’s hands. The right-hander blinked, hitting three unforced errors and a double fault to get broken. The two would arrive at a third tiebreaker, where the first five points were won by the receiver.

There's an adage that says fortune favors the bold and for Thiem, he demonstrated that to the highest degree in three sets that could have easily gone the other way. With Nadal winning two service points to get to 4-5, Thiem would soon see two match points slip away, the second off a brave stoppage by Nadal to challenge a call. But Thiem took it to him on the baseline in the final two points to seal the sensational victory after four hours in 10 minutes.

Getty Images

Nadal started positively with a trio of comfortable holds and had looks of 30-30 (2nd return game) and 15-30 (3rd return game) on Thiem’s serve before the two reached the midway point of the set. The 26-year-old maintained his supremacy on first serve to keep pace with Nadal to reach 4-4. Sensing the moment, Nadal increased his intensity, throwing in a couple fist pumps with his trademark “Vamos!” reaction. With Thiem serving at 4-5, Nadal stepped up his aggression, charging the net twice to earn a 0-30 window. Two points later, the Austrian’s double fault created two set points and Nadal converted the second to breathe new life into the match.

Getty Images

At 2-2, Thiem was burned twice at the net to fall behind 0-40, and would toss in his second double fault of the game to drop serve. At 15-30 in the following game, the Spaniard won a grueling 19-shot exchange, and despite the taxing rally, was given a time violation warning. Understandably upset, Nadal told chair umpire Aurelie Tourte, “you don’t like the good tennis.”

Nadal once again saw his break lead evaporate with a messy game at 4-3. A floating Thiem forehand landed in to create a 0-30 window, but Rafa aided in the next two points: he had plenty of time to set for a forehand, and netted it, and followed it up with a double fault that fell well short. Thiem, scrappy in the best regard, continued to press on return, getting within two points of the set in the 10th game, and holding a set point in the 12th. Nadal's forehand finally clicked when he needed it most, drilling a laser down the line.

Getty Images

The top seed's sharp net game has also showed signs of inconsistency tonight and it cost him the first mini break when his backhand volley was cut too short. Thiem's speed around the court has been a significant factor, too, and he opened a 4-0 lead. It was wiped clean by Nadal, but at 4-5, a poor drop shot by Nadal was read instantly by the charging Thiem. He took the final three points to extend his lead to two sets, and currently has two more winners than Nadal (33 to 31). If Nadal is to come back, he'll have to draw on memories from 2007, when he rallied from two sets down to defeat Mikhail Youzhny at Wimbledon.

Thiem was locked in on serve, and though Nadal was pressured a bit more, the world No. 1 broke for 5-3 after shaping a perfectly timed backhand lob. He would hold set point in the ensuing game, but Thiem played to win on the pressure points, punishing the left-hander with any ball left short. A Nadal mishit off the forehand handed the Austrian his third break point of the game and he seized the opportunity, connecting for an inside-out forehand return winner.

Getty Images

Nadal earned the first mini break in the tiebreaker, though it was short lived. Thiem would respond with four winners over the next eight points, including two rocket forehands to close out the high-quality 67-minute set.