Rafael Nadal wipes away tears to reach Australian Open final at Melbourne Park
Spaniard beats Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-4), 6-4 to set up meeting with Roger Federer in first grand slam final since 2014
It took nearly five hours of gruelling tennis for Rafael Nadal to fend off Grigor Dimitrov and book a dream Australian Open final against Roger Federer, but before Melbourne Park the Spaniard endured a season of heartache and doubt.
So having edged Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (7-4), 6-4 in a nerve-shredding marathon to reach his first grand slam final since the 2014 French Open, an exhausted Nadal allowed himself to reflect on a “tough” year.
Shut out of the grand slam semi-finals for two years, Nadal felt at rock-bottom at Roland Garros last year where the nine-times champion was a shock withdrawal after the third round after his injured wrist finally giving way after being propped up by painkilling injections.
“I always had the confidence that if I am able to win some matches, then anything can happen,” Nadal said.
"It's difficult to describe my emotions." - @RafaelNadal is back into the final of a Grand Slam! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/U6sy3CAoC4— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2017
“But last year was tough. When you feel that you are playing very well and you have to go from Roland Garros without going on court, I remember myself crying in the car coming back to hotel. That was a tough moment.”