MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – A tearful Rafa Nadal was stunned 6-4 6-2 6-3 by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in the Australian Open quarter-finals today, wrecking his bid to hold all four grand slam titles at once.
A leg injury suffered early in the match made the world number one’s quest to become only the third man, and first since 1969, to achieve the iron man feat almost impossible.
“It’s not easy because Rafa is a gentleman and he played with injury as we are friendly,” Ferrer, who will play fifth seed Andy Murray in the semi-final, said in a courtside interview.
“I played aggressive, I tried to go to the net, but if Rafael was not injured, I wouldn’t have won in three sets,” he added after reaching his second grand slam semi-final, and first since the 2007 U.S. Open when he also knocked out Nadal.
“It’s one big (achievement) for me but it’s not a victory really. These last two weeks have been unbelievable. I will try to do my best to win a slam.”
Nadal, the 2009 Melbourne champion, took an early medical timeout after appearing to tweak his left hamstring, shaking his head as he trudged off Rod Laver Arena.
The nine-times grand slam champion returned with his thigh strapped but was clearly in pain, wincing and muttering to his uncle and coach Toni.
Seventh seed Ferrer, who had lost 11 of his previous 14 meetings with Nadal, including the last seven, showed no mercy, ripping shots to all corners to keep the pressure on.
A tortured Nadal slumped in his seat with his head in his hands after another thumping forehand down the line gave Ferrer a two-set lead.
Moments later, he was choking back tears after Ferrer tore into a 3-0 lead in the third but he battled like a true champion to get on the board, even forcing a break point at 4-2 down.
However, Ferrer kept his nerve and closed out the quarter-final with another big forehand after two hours and 33 minutes.
Nadal exited the year’s first grand slam at the same stage and in the same manner in 2010, also on Australia Day, retiring with a knee injury against Britain’s Murray.
