Rafael Nadal’s drive towards a second Australian Open title came to a shuddering injury-induced halt on a day of upsets that saw unseeded Kyle Edmund and Elise Mertens make the semifinals.
A wincing Nadal struggled with a muscle strain in his upper right thigh from late in the fourth set before abandoning the match at 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2, 2-0, leaving a packed Rod Laver Arena crushed with disappointment.
It was only the second time the World No. 1 has retired in over 250 Grand Slam matches, his last, coincidentally, during the 2010 quarterfinals against Andy Murray.
“It’s not the first time here,” an ashen-faced Nadal told reporters.
Rafael Nadal.
“I am a positive person ... but today is an opportunity lost to be in a semifinals of a Grand Slam.”
Of the seven Grand Slam quarterfinal defeats of his career, five have now come on the blue hardcourts at Melbourne Park.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion said he felt the strain in the third set but was not affected until the fourth when it twinged during a scramble for a drop-shot.
He signed off his news conference on a sour note, complaining that too many players were getting injuries.
“Somebody who is running the tour should think a little bit about what’s going on,” said the Spaniard.
“I don’t know if they have to think a little bit about the health of the players.
Cilic will meet Britain’s Edmund, who stunned third seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Mertens, who is yet to drop a set, was equally convincing in blasting past World No. 4 Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 to become the first Belgian to make the semifinals since Kim Clijsters in 2012.
Flying high: Unseeded Elise Mertens and Kyle Edmund surprised themselves, toppling Elina Svitolina and Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals.
World No. 37 Mertens is on a hot streak of form, unbeaten in 10 matches after winning in Hobart this month.
She will play second-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who beat veteran Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, for a place in Saturday’s final.
Edmund became only the fourth British man to reach the Australian Open semifinals in the post-1968 Open Era. “It’s an amazing feeling. I’m very happy,” said the 23-year-old, ranked 49.
“It was a hard match and I’m really trying to enjoy the moment. It was my first match on Rod Laver Arena and it’s very special.”
