Rafael Nadal has sensationally been eliminated from the Brisbane International after suffering a chastening defeat to world number 55 Jordan Thompson in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International tennis competition on Friday.
The game which marked the return to the courts for Nädal after a 12-month time off due to injury, lasted a period of 3 hours, 25 minutes for the Australian, Thompson to upset his more illustrious opponent.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn the game proper, Thompson saved three points in the second set and went past a tiring Nadal 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in a game that was played at the Pat Rafter Arena.
Nädal grabbed the first set and took his impressive run into the second set
“I completely forgot I saved match points,” Thompson said immediately afterwards to the media.
“To beat Rafa in Brisbane in a quarterfinal, and I think it is now my first semi-final on a hard court, I couldn’t be happier.”
Thompson will now play second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals after the Bulgarian’s 6-1, 6-4 victory over Australian Rinky Hijikata.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
