Jordan Thompson downs Rafael Nadal to join exclusive list at Brisbane International

Rafael Nadal had looked peerless in his march to the quarter-finals in Brisbane. Then he ran into world No.55 Jordan Thompson.

Australia's Jordan Thompson celebrates winning the second set against Spain's Rafael Nadal during their men's singles match at the Brisbane International/. Picture: AFP

Hewitt. Guccione. Kyrgios. De Minaur.

And now, Jordan Thompson.

Four became five in the early hours of Saturday morning as the 29-year-old added his name to an exclusive list of Australians who have bested Rafael Nadal on a tennis court.

Once again the world No.55 pushed one of the best on the planet all the way. Only this time, he came out on top.

For some, Thompson’s 5-7 7-6 (6) 6-3 victory over a fast fading Nadal will come with an asterisk.

Jordan Thompson pushed Rafael Nadal all the way — and came out on top. Picture: Getty Images

The Super Spaniard clearly began to falter in the third set, to the point he left the court for a medical timeout when trailing 4-1.

Nadal’s fitness will be a major talking point over the next week as he prepares for what could be his final Australian Open. We will hear plenty about the health of his hip between now and then.

But Friday night belonged to Thompson, and the Sydney native deserves his flowers.

Jordan Thompson has added his name to an exclusive list of Australians who have bested Rafael Nadal. Picture: AFP

Nadal had looked peerless in his march to the quarter-finals in Brisbane.

Few in world tennis could claim to match the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s physicality. But Thompson stood across the net a worthy equal.

He uncorked 48 winners and challenged Nadal at his own game.

He probably should have won the first set.

A career first serve above 60 per cent suddenly dipped below 50. As everything else was humming, his weapon was left wanting.

Meanwhile Nadal’s was on fire. He pushed above 80 per cent and of those, he won the majority.

Rafael Nadal had looked peerless in his march to the quarter-finals. Picture: AFP

The second set was Nadal’s to lose. And somehow, he did.

Thompson saved three match points. Two of those were gifted to him by Nadal errors.

Then he came from three back in the tie-break to send the match into a third set.

The Aussie’s roar signalled he was ready to go all the way, while Nadal looked tired.

After three hours and twenty-five minutes, Thompson had his man.

Thompson said he was so wrapped up in the match he couldn’t remember a key moment.

“I completely forgot I saved match points,” Thompson said.

“To beat Rafa in Brisbane in a quarter-final, and I think it is now

my first semi-final on a hard court, I couldn’t be happier.”

Rafael Nadal’s fitness will be a major talking point over the next week. Picture: AFP

Let’s call it his best win in six years — right behind the straight-sets upset of a then-world No.1 Andy Murray at Queen’s Club.

He has threatened this form ever since.

At Wimbledon last year, he pushed Novak Djokovic for almost three hours.

In Cincinnati, he took a set off Carlos Alcaraz.

Two top 10 scalps – Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev — came his way in 2023.

Now he has started 2024 with one of the biggest of all.

Jordan Thompson and Rafael Nadal shake hands after their marathon match. Picture: AFP

His reward is a semi-final date with one of the most in-form players in the world at the moment.

Grigor Dimitrov — the 2017 Brisbane champion and winningest player in tournament history.

He dispatched Thompson’s fellow Aussie, Rinky Hijikata, in just over an hour earlier on Friday.

The Bulgarian will be feeling fresh. His Aussie rival, likely a little fatigued.

It’s another tall task for Thompson to tackle. But as he showed on Saturday morning, he has the tools to take the world’s best all the way.