Australian Open men’s semi-final 2022: Rafael Nadal defeats Matteo Berrettini

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal has been reduced to tears detailing his harrowing path to the Australian Open final that has him on the brink of grand slam history.

An emotional Rafael Nadal shed tears on Rod Laver Arena after bulldozing his was into a “completely unexpected” sixth Australian Open final.

Nadal didn’t know if he’d even be able to compete at Melbourne Park this year, as a foot injury and then Covid rocked his preparation – but now he’s on the verge of a history-making 21st grand slam title.

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Rare emotions from the great Rafael Nadal pic.twitter.com/F8zvn8Kuou

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Australia hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for Nadal, with just a 2009 triumph to show from 16 appearances, but rarely has he played as well as through the first two sets of his demanding two-hour-and-55 minute win over seventh seed Matteo Berrettini.

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Rafael Nadal shed tears on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: AFP

Nadal was simply too good for Italian Matteo Berrettini. Picture: Getty Images

The 35-year-old wound back the clock with a vicious display until his young rival rallied to take the third set – avoiding a repeat of his straight-sets thrashing in the 2019 US Open semis – before Nadal sealed his spot in a 29th grand slam final with the 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 victory.

And it meant everything to the all-time great.

“It’s something completely unexpected, so I am super happy,” Nadal said.

“Of course everybody knows me, and I’m always gonna try my best. Of course my goal now is to win.

“For me, it’s a present, just be here and play tennis.”

Nadal was on song throughout, only stumbling in the third set, before regrouping and booking his spot in the final. Picture: AFP

The win puts Nadal in the box seat to claim grand slam title 21 and put his nose in front of fellow greats Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, but he has routinely dispatched questions on that topic with the efficiency of his deadly top-spin forehand.

“At the end of the day, and being very honest, for me it is much more important to have the chance to play tennis than to win the 21,” he said.

“Because that makes me more happy in terms of general life - to be able to do the thing that I like to do more than achieving another grand slam.”

Matteo Berrettini impressed at the Open, but Rafa had too much firepower. Picture: Getty Images

With the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena due to torrential rain hitting Melbourne, conditions were expected to favour the Italian, but it was Nadal who came out breathing fire.

No one has made opponents look smaller than Barty this fortnight, blazing her path to the women’s final in just six hours – but Nadal came close on Friday.

Nadal pushed Berrettini around the court, humiliating the seventh seed by peppering his backhand as the errors mounted.

Nadal tries to compose himself through the tears. Picture: Michael Klein

Through two sets, the Italian cut a despondent figure, a look he returned to despite a stirring third-set comeback.

But as Berrettini left the court, it was Nadal who buried his head into his shirt to hide the tears.

“I went through a lot of challenging moments, a lot of days of hard work without seeing a light there,” he explained of the emotional scenes.