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
What a stunning performance from Rafa against Milos. In conversation I am speechless.
In print, there are no words to describe how thrilled and happy I am for Rafa and his team.
I enjoyed reading all the other fans’ reactions and thoughts conveyint their utmost support for him.
I wish Rafa and his team all the best in the semi-finals against Grigor, another very hungry
talented and likeable competitor.
Vamos, Rafa!!!
I have no coherent words left for what I feel. Rafa, this is unbelievable. Those emotions are not comparable to anything, not even Roger reaching the semis, even if this is making me very, very happy, too. It is a constant state of thrill and joy and excitement… after all that suffering.. I’m not one of the fans here who I really admire (!) who did always believe. I always wish and dream, but really, really believing? Not so much the last two years. This is freaking unbelievable.
We are not there yet. A loss now against Dimitrov would be very painful. A loss to Stan even more. A loss to Roger would be a complete disaster. Do not forget: Rafa wants to end up with at least the same amount of majors as Roger. So he has to make it 17-15. 18-14 would be totally horrid. I also do not understand how you can support both players; the personalities, style of play, mental toughness, they are miles apart. And Rafa is the one who uncovered the Federer legend, by beating him time and again, at a time that the media treated him (RF) as if God had decided to have a go at tennis (to the point that Roger actually believed that himself). Rafa stopped him at Wimbledon, and never allowed him passage at Aussie Open and RG. It MUST remain like this. For sheer GOAT status sake.
I really do not expect anybody to understand why I support both players because this is a very complicated and contradictory story. I am Swiss and Roger got me into tennis first when I was a teenager. Rafa jumped in my heart some years later. I do not go too deep into details, but I do support them in a complete different way. I bow to Roger and love to watch his game, but for some reasons my heart decided to beat for Rafa. Nonetheless, I will never, never give up my love for Rogers “dancing” style of play and his lighness.
Those two represent an era, something I guess we will never witness again in sports, but they also represent two oppositional sides of different aspects of character that I (and maybe many of us) carry inside ourselves.
I want Rafa to have the same number of GS-titles like Roger when they end their career. If it won’t happen, I’m also ok. For me, there there is no question about who is the best player of all times. They both are, to me. But Rafa “stole my heart” ;).
Btw: I did not write anything about a final between those two yet, I don’t know why you are saying “we are not there yet”. Believe me, I know ;).
Your comment is comparable to telling a mother that she can love only one of her two children. Or a pet parent of multiple pets of different species that she can love only one pet.
It is the very nature of their different styles that have intrigued fans for years. Rafa and Roger have many of the same fans.
What Rafa wants is “to be on top again,” to be healthy and to be able to compete at a high level. If he wins more grand slams that is just icing on the cake. He is astounded by what he has accomplished. Competing is literally his life, so much so that instead of resting after an injury he enters tournaments.
As for any loss here at the AO, Rafa didn’t even expect to get this far in the tournament. You can tell by the joy he showed after the A. Sverev and Roanic wins. He is back to his hop-skip and fist pumps.
Stop whining about GOAT and enjoy Rafa’s wins because we don’t know how much longer he will be competing. Hopefully, it will be more than the two-three years he spoke of.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo as usual you are the one that spoils the party. Pro tennis players, and definitely the Big Four plus Stan and DelPo, they are in it for one thing, and for thing only: MAJORS. They want to win as many of those as possible and yes, the amount counts for Rafa for sure. He continued after 2015 and 2016 for that reason, and Moya only joined after having confirmed that winning majors is the goal. Same reason Becker left Djoko as he understood the fire there went out. It is probably not easy to understand, for you don’t have that drive in you that top athletes and successful entrepreneurs share, that drive that can lead to great achievements. Keep feeding us your hollow statements, you are the sideline type with the big mouth who never has been there and never will be. While Nadal stays on course to write tennis history.
Apologies, I didn’t know you were present during Rafa’s conversation with Carlos.
You also had Rafa out of the AO in a loss to A. Zverev.
Now that Rafa is winning you again switch allegiance.
Straight sets is important at a major. What happens in the Wawrinka Federer match is key to the final. If it is a long drawn out death march with long heavy ball rallies the war of attrition could cost the victor in the final. It seems the adjustments to Rafa’s game have created some efficiency that could pay dividends from both an future injury perspective and opportunity on the faster surfaces. Dimitrov got through in straight sets as well. He will not go quietly. It would be great for the game to see a Rafa Fed final… but there is a long way to go for that to happen. Wawrinka’s backhand is not as vulnerable to Rafa as Fed’s backhand once was. But credit to Carlos Moya… he has clearly been a strategic asset to Nadal’s game in ways that have paid great results! Vamos!
Rafa, I never lost faith in you even when you were losing, even when some said you were finished. If that were the case, I wanted to hear it from you. Not from commentators and surely not from fans who stuck by you only when you were winning.
I knew there would come a time, once you were healthy, that you would rebound because of your indomitable work ethic, your love of the game, and your willingness to “fight hard for the important things.”
When you announced that “this is not the end,” and that “you were not ready to retire,” I told myself to get ready for the end of the rollercoaster ride. I am ecstatic that you are returning to be that force to be reckoned with. What a metamorphosis!!!
Good luck against Dimitrov.
RAFA ROCKS
Didn’t watch the match but im waiting for the highlights. Checked the final score though at work and was grinning from ear to ear. Straight sets – fantastic! So pleased for rafa