MELBOURNE, Australia – Denis Shapovalov was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, losing 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 to Rafael Nadal.
But the Canadian picked things up with a bang.
Shapovalov called Carlos Bernardes and his fellow chair referees “corrupt”, saying Nadal had been treated favorably in a match that was held in oppressive heat and humidity.
The 22-year-old definitely felt he had to face several opponents.
“I feel good physically. Emotionally, it’s heartbreaking to miss this. “I really felt like I had the victory in my racket,” Shapovalov told a post-match press conference. In the third, fourth, fifth set, I felt the best player, I had more opportunities. Just a bad game for me (in the fifth set). »
Shapovalov felt that Bernardes was giving Nadal too much range during the time between sets and the length of his breaks between sets.
In fact, the 2022 rules for “bath breaks” and changing clothes together allow up to five minutes from the time the player arrives and enters the off-site location. So Nadal did not particularly break the rules.
“I think I was wrong when I said he was corrupt,” Shapovalov added. But I remain in my place. I think the way Rafa escapes is unfair. »
Shapovalov acknowledged that Nadal alone was challenging enough for the crowd to applaud Canada’s missed first serve and for the referee to give Nadal what he considered a privilege.
Nadal was hurt
At the end of the fourth set, with Shapovalov on fire, Nadal called the doctor and the coach on the field for a consultation. They gave him pills to calm his nausea.
“At the beginning of the game I played very well and I know how difficult it is to face a player like Dennis. (Later) he served wonderfully and especially with his second ball. I think I had my chances at the beginning of the third set. I did not enter them. “And then I started to feel a little more tired and he pushed me,” Nadal commented.
When Shapovalov pushed him to a decisive fifth set, Nadal left the pitch for a change of clothes and a medical evaluation. They took his blood pressure and checked his physical condition, he said.
With all that, it took exactly seven minutes for the game to continue.
Shapovalov’s momentum was clearly broken even though he was within the rules.
The Canadian also noted that at the Australian Open last year he was denied a bath break because he had already requested a medical break.
“Where is the line?” I respect everything Rafa has done and I think he is an incredible player. But there must be limits, established rules. He is so frustrating as a player. You feel that you are not just playing against the player. “You are playing against the referees, you are playing against many others,” Shapovalov said.
Nadal felt that Shapovalov was wrong when he claimed that the 20-time Grand Slam winner had the privilege of being treated.
He attributed this to the youth.
“I am just sorry. I think he played a great game. Of course, it is difficult to accept losing such a match. Especially since I felt vulnerable at some point and probably noted it, but I managed to win the game, right? said Nadal.
“He is young. I also made a lot of mistakes when I was younger, and he will probably realize later, after he thought correctly, that he was probably wrong today. »
Bad start of Shapo
Would the result have been different if Shapovalov had started better? It can.
While the heat was the same for both of them, Nadal, 13 years older than his opponent, clearly felt the results.
But 14th Sapovalov was a bit straight at the start of the match.
“It simply came to our notice then. I did not feel comfortable. It was my first game in a while at Rod Laver (Arena), it was definitely more comfortable than me. I did not serve very well, I had a problem with returns. The rhythm was not there, Shapovalov analyzed. But yes, I’m happy with how I was able to fight and come back. I definitely found my game at the end of the third set and the fourth. »
At the time, Nadal used shifts in the stadium by passing the air conditioning hose over his face and wrapping an icy towel around his neck.
“I’m not 21 anymore,” he admitted.
At times, Nadal did not even run a few balls from Shapovalov who was close by.
But in the end, he said, his serve, which was passive for much of the game, along with problems with the ball throwing and 11 double faults, eventually saved him.
The champion of 2009 is again in the semifinals. With both semifinals being played on Friday this year (one was traditionally played on Thursday, the other on Friday), it will have two days off. He will face Italian Matteo Berrettini, who beat Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2.
Quebec’s Félix Auger-Aliassime meets second Russian Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday night (3:30 a.m. EST), with the winner also advancing to Friday’s semifinals.
