Spanish legend Rafael Nadal has taken one step closer to winning his record 21st Grand Slam men's singles title. Nadal defeated Denis Shapovalov in five sets in a 4-hour marathon in a quarter-final on Tuesday to take part in the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the seventh time. Nadal has won 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 over 14th rank Shapovalov in the quarter-finals. After dominating in the first two sets, in the third and fourth sets, due to a bitter stomach, his rhythm was broken, but by winning the decisive set, he has made it to the final 4.

Nadal has won the title only once in 2009 and has lost the quarter-finals seven times out of the last 13 times. Now the semi-final is going to be held on Friday, i.e. he will get a two-day break. In the semi-finals, he will face 7th rank Matteo Berrettini. Wimbledon runner-up and seventh-ranked Berrettini also defeated 17th ranked Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2 in another marathon bout. He has become the first Italian to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

In the women's section, both the quarter-final matches played on Tuesday have been decided in straight sets. World number one Ashleigh Barty defeated 21st seed Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-0 while Madison Keys defeated French Open champion Barbora Krasikova 6-3, 6-2. Barty has reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the second time in the last three years. Keys has reached the last 4 at Melbourne Park after 7 years. Barty, the 2021 Wimbledon champion, is trying to become the first Australian woman to win the Australian Open since 1978. Now he will face Madison Keys. Barty had lost to Sophia Kenin in the semi-finals in 2020.

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