Stefanos Tsitsipas produced comeback of career to dethrone Rafael Nadal

Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas became only the third player — and just the second in a major — to overcome a two-set deficit against Rafael Nadal in a stunning performance on Rod Laver Arena.

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas during his quarter-final win over Rafael Nadal last night. Picture: Getty Images

Stefanos Tsitsipas has joined the rarest of legions by reeling in Rafael Nadal in a famous Australian Open quarter-final upset on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night.

When he was a semi-finalist in Melbourne two years ago, Tsitsipas claimed the scalp of Roger Federer. But his effort to overcome a two-set deficit against Nadal to prevail 3-6 2-6 7-6 (4) 6-4 7-5 in 4hr 5min signals a coming of age by a contender tipped for greatness.

The 22-year-old became only the third player — and the second in a major — to defeat the 20-time major winner after conceding the first two sets.

Federer managed the feat in the Miami Masters in 2005 at a time when the deciders of that tier of tournaments were played over the best-of-five format.

Fabio Fognini, who fell to the Spaniard on the weekend, rocked New York in 2015 when surging past Nadal with some thunderous groundstrokes.

Nadal’s record after winning the opening two sets in grand slam matches now slips to 223 victories from 225 attempts.

The remarkable triumph of Tsitsipas was born on the back of stern resilience against a ferocious baseline attack from Nadal and exceptional serving under pressure.

From 3-all, 0-30 on the Nadal serve in the opening set, the three-time major semi-finalist was routed by the Spaniard for a period.

But the world No 6 was able to regroup in the third set and was in a position to pounce when, midway through the tie-breaker, Nadal missed a regulation bounce smash.

The Greek had chances to break his rival early in the fourth set. He eventually pounced at 4-all when the 2009 Australian Open champion erred from the baseline twice in succession in a hardfought service game to drop serve.

It was Nadal that eventually cracked, dropping serve to love at 5-all in the decider. The final game was a corker. Nadal saved match points with brilliance.

The Greek a breakpoint with a stunning serve. Then Tsitsipas ripped a backhand winner and it was all over.

Adding lustre to the success of Tsitsipas is that until the third set tie-breaker, Nadal had strung together 35 straight sets at grand slam level. His streak dated back to his four-set defeat by Dominic Thiem in a quarter-final in Melbourne last year.

In that period he claimed a 13th Roland Garros title to draw level with Federer as the holder of 20 grand slam titles.

When Nadal led by two sets, it seemed his bid to create history in Melbourne would continue against Russian Daniil Medvedev in a semi-final on Friday night. Hours earlier Medvedev had torn apart his good mate Andrey Rublev, just as he always does.

The redhead from Russia melted in the heat of the Australian Open’s first proper summer day when beaten 7-5 6-3 6-2.

While an emerging star of the tour, Rublev has always found the 4th seeded Medvedev his kryptonite and is yet to claim a set from him in four outings.

But this was clearly far tougher than the straight sets loss indicated, with Medvedev requiring treatment from a trainer for cramp before he could walk off the court.

Draining rallies sucked the life out of both players but it was the younger who wilted first, showing signs of fatigue from midway through the second set as his crushing groundstrokes lost their sting.

“Both of us were (cramping). We had some unbelievable rallies,” Medvedev said.

“It’s the first time I saw Andrey so tired. We always laugh about him, that he’s like a Duracell battery. It was the first really hot day. We were playing (at) 3pm. It was not easy physically.”

There was a feeling prior to the Australian Open that this might yet be the event where the emerging contenders made a stand against the legends of the game.

Nadal did not play during the ATP Cup because of a back injury. Novak Djokovic has an abdominal issue. Roger Federer and Andy Murray failed to even make it to Melbourne.

Djokovic, 33, is the oldest man left and faces the surprise packet Aslan Karatsev, a qualifier, in Thursday night’s semi-final.

He is an eight-time Australian Open champion. And a victory here will close the margin to two on Federer and Nadal on the all-time list.

Tsitsipas said he was speechless after the stunning success.

“I have no words to describe what happened on court. My tennis speaks for itself. It is an unbelievable feeling to fight … and to give it my all on the court,” he said.

“I don’t know what happened after the third set. I fly like a little bird and everything was working for me. The emotions at the very end. It is something else.”

The Greek sensation, who edged Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets in the second round, said he had been working to contain his emotions, which he managed to do despite the stress of the occasion.

“It was something that I focused a lot on today,” he said.

“Staying calm on the court and holding my nerves is an important element. I have been working to keep everything to myself.

“It is something that I am really, really happy with the attitude I showed on the court. It is the perfect resemblance.”

The Greek is mindful that he faces another immense challenge against Medvedev on Friday night.

The Russian has won five of their six outings, though Tsitsipas did defeat him in their last outing at the ATP Cup in London in 2019.

“He is an opponent who plays very well. He is very consistent and has had a lot of consecutive wins,” he said.

“He is in good shape. I won’t lie. I need to recover, to take an ice bath. I know he is going to give me a tough match on Friday night. But I cannot wait.”

A gracious Nadal was cramping as he completed his media obligations following a stunning five-set defeat at the hands of Tsitsipas.

The 20-major winner has endured misfortune in Australia, where he has claimed only one of his grand slam singles titles, but said there were more important concerns than a tight loss.

“I mean, I am not the guy that (is) going to find excuses on that or gonna complain about what happened, no,” he said.

“(I) just accept (it). I never considered myself an unlucky person at all. (It) doesn’t matter the injuries that I had. I think I am a very lucky person.

“The only thing that I can do is just keep going. I put myself in a position, even with the challenges that I faced, that I was in quarterfinals with two sets up, close to being in the semifinals.

“So (it has) been a chance lost, yes, but life continues. I hope to keep having chances. I’m gonna keep fighting for it.”