World Sport News

Last year’s finalist Rafael Nadal (31) has given up in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in Melbourne. The world number one from Spain broke off the match against former US Open Champion Marin Cilic after 3:47 hours at the score of 6:3,3:6,7:6 (7:5), 2:6,0:2.

In the fourth set Nadal had been treated at the groin, from this point on he obviously lacked the strength. Since the end of the 2017 season Nadal has had physical problems, but at the season finale in London he had given up after only one match because of knee problems.

For the first time in his career, Nadal came to Melbourne without an official preparation match, but made a strong impression in the first few rounds and only made one set in the last sixteen.

The Croatian Cilic (29) will face the Briton Kyle Edmund in his second semi-final in Melbourne after 2010. The world ranking-49. had prevailed against ATP world champion Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 6:4,3:6,6:3,6:3,6:4.