Rafael Nadal continued his relentless march towards an 18th Major title on Tuesday as an emotional Petra Kvitova swept into her first Grand Slam semifinal since a terrifying knife attack almost ended her career.
On day nine of the Australian Open, the fairytale runs of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Danielle Collins were also extended as they too made the last four.
Second seed Nadal inched closer to winning an event he has only claimed once before when he trounced unseeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in another ruthless display from a man who has not dropped a set so far.
Tiafoe had announced himself by beating fifth seed Kevin Anderson, but was no match for a player at the peak of his powers as he attempts to become only the third man to win all four Slams twice and the first to do so in the Open era.
“I had some trouble at this event all my career, so I’m very happy with the way I played tonight,” said the Spaniard, who faces another young gun Tsitsipas in the semifinals. “I feel lucky to be where I am.”
Greek sensation Tsitsipas powered into the last four with a measured 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
The 20-year-old, who ended Swiss great Roger Federer’s tournament, became the youngest man to reach the semis at Melbourne Park since Andy Roddick in 2003 and the first player from Greece to get so far at Grand Slam.
“I’m just living the dream and feel a bit emotional but not too much. I know I really worked hard to get here, playing in semis of a Grand Slam,” said the Greek.
Czech Kvitova had not gone past the last eight at a Major since a burglar slashed her left hand in December 2016, forcing her out of the game for six months and leaving her with lasting nerve damage in the fingers of her racquet hand.
But the eighth seed has bounced back and is on a sensational 10-match unbeaten streak after claiming the Sydney International warm-up title.
She proved too much for Ashleigh Barty, crushing the local hope 6-1, 6-4, and was in tears afterwards as she reflected on her long journey back to the top.
“Really, I didn’t imagine to be back on this great stadium and play with the best,” the two-time Wimbledon champion said. “I’m calling it as my second career. So it’s the first semifinal of the second career. I’m really enjoying it.”
Kvitova will face unseeded American Collins in the semifinal on Thursday and she desperately wants to reach Saturday’s decider.
Collins, the World No. 35, had never won a Grand Slam match before entering this year’s tournament but she stunned three-time Major champion and second seed Angelique Kerber in round four.
And the 25-year-old continued her Cinderella run by bouncing back to down Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
“This has all been a really incredible experience,” she said. “This time last year I was playing a challenger (tournament). But, yeah, I think I’m really embracing it. It makes it a lot easier when you play in front of great fans and really good energy.”
The results
Men's singles: Quarterfinals: 14-Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre) bt 22-Roberto Bautista Agut (Esp) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2); 2-Rafael Nadal (Esp) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Women's singles: Quarterfinals: Danielle Collins (USA) bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Rus) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1; 8-Petra Kvitova (Cze) bt 15-Ashleigh Barty (Aus) 6-1, 6-4.
Mixed doubles: Second round: 5-Robert Farah (Col) & Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Ger) bt Leander Paes (Ind) & Samantha Stosur (Aus) 4-6, 6-4, [10-8].
