Rafael Nadal sailed into the Australian Open semi-finals with a straight-set defeat of the big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic in two hours and 44 minutes.
Rafa reached the last four in Melbourne for a 5th time with a 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-4 win.
2009 champ, seeded 9th as he seeks an 15th Grand Slam title, faces Grigor Dimitrov in the last four.
After the match, Rafa said:
I am not a very arrogant person so I always have doubts. It’s normal, even when I was winning a lot I had doubts so you can imagine when I wasn’t…
I had a great career, but a lot of tough moments. That makes me enjoy this even more.
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – 25/1/17 Spain’s Rafael Nadal places his water bottles during his Men’s singles quarter-final match against Canada’s Milos Raonic. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Canada’s Milos Raonic, right, and Spain’s Rafael Nadal change ends during their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates a point win over Canada’s Milos Raonic during their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – 25/1/17 Maria Francisca Perello, girlfriend of Spain’s Rafael Nadal, looks on ahead of his Men’s singles quarter-final match against Canada’s Milos Raonic. REUTERS/Issei Kato
A detail of the shows of Rafael Nadal of Spain as he serves in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: Scott Barbour/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – 25/1/17 Carlos Moya, coach of Spain’s Rafael Nadal, looks on during his Men’s singles quarter-final match against Canada’s Milos Raonic. REUTERS/Issei Kato
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – 25/1/17 Spain’s Rafael Nadal changes his shirt during his Men’s singles quarter-final match against Canada’s Milos Raonic. REUTERS/Issei Kato
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: The team of Rafael Nadal of Spain watch his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory against Canada’s Milos Raonic during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day ten of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2017. / AFP / SAEED KHAN / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: AFP)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 25: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: Scott Barbour/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning match point in his quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal (L) shakes hands with Canada’s Milos Raonic after winning their men’s singles quarter-final match on day ten of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2017. / AFP / GREG WOOD / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates beating Canada’s Milos Raonic in their men’s singles quarter-final match on day ten of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2017. / AFP / PETER PARKS / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory against against Canada’s Milos Raonic during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day ten of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2017. / AFP / WILLIAM WEST / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal signs his autograph for fans after winning his men’s singles quarter-final match against Canada’s Milos Raonic on day ten of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2017. / AFP / PETER PARKS / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory against against Canada’s Milos Raonic during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day ten of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 25, 2017. / AFP / WILLIAM WEST / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Jan. 24, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafa your match against Dimitrov was soooooooooooooo great.
Thank you for beri4ng in the tournament by the time I arrived in Melbourne.
I was there and you tried after every point soooooooooooooo hard.
Congratulations to you and your team,
Love and prayers,
Alaine
XXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Rafa, you have to feed Dimitrov some humble pie. From the comments I just read, attributed to him, he feels he is ready to take the title. A little too confident I would say.
You adjusted your game to beat Milos so get your practice in to defeat Dimitrov. He has improved of late and I know you won’t underestimate him.
Get the ball slamming because Roger is waiting for you for the final.
RAFA ROCKS
Serena and Venus will play for the AO trophy.
Can we have a Rafa and Roger final, please you guys.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa should reach the final without much trouble from Dimitrov; Rafa has won seven of their eight meetings. Rafa’s one loss occurred just under two weeks before he pulled out of the 2016 tour. I hope he has another SS win.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa,
I have always believed in you. My Facebook has you in so many pictures. I never say anything about you until the tournament is a win for you or you are done. I am superstitious. I have always believed in you, even when you had doubts. I do not doubt your ability to play at all and win big tournaments. You are my favorite player of all time. I have been watching since Billy Jean king beat Bobby Riggs. It was Conners era. I saw you on tv when you were 18. I said he is going to be the next champion. You will always be my champion. I would love to someday visit your school. I hope I get to see you play just once. I wouldn’t care if it was a practice game. You are amazing to watch. You read your opponent so well. You are kind and gracious to everyone.
Thank you for giving all of us so much of your life. I appreciate you and all you sacrifice to play tennis and give us such enjoyment. I see you so determined and happy. I am so glad you are back and really seem to be enjoying your tennis matches. 😘👏👏👏
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO WRITE A LONG REVIEW. DO YOU THINK WE HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT……………….NO WAY. YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME AND MINE BECAUSE I WILL NEVER READ A STORY THAT LONG.
Who are you talking about?
Just as someone else who was not forced to watch a “slow” Rafa, you are not being forced to “read a long Rafa.” Find the shortest comments and enjoy. There’s something for everyone.
RAFA ROCKS