Worlds No.1 Tennis Player Injury Rafael Nadal Exist the Australian Open 2011
Injury-hit world number one Rafael Nadal was sensationally dumped from the Australian Open quarter-finals 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 by Spanish compatriot David Ferrer on Wednesday.
The defeat ended Nadal's bid for a fourth straight non-calendar year Grand Slam victory. Only Don Budge and Rod Laver have held all four titles at the same time.
Nadal, who appeared to have tears in his eyes during a changeover while trailing 3-0 in the third set, took a medical timeout for an apparent leg injury after three games and was clearly out of sorts, failing to chase down balls that he would ordinarily return easily.
David Ferrer will now take on Andy Murray (rank 5) in the semi-finals on 28 January. The other semi-final between Roger Federer (rank 2) and Novak Djokovic (rank 3) will take place on 27 January.
"I didn't know they were going to start this noise during our match, it was a difficult moment," said Zvonareva, who led the final set 3-0 before the disruptions but saw Kvitova level it at 4-4. "You're here to play tennis ... I was trying to keep my concentration."
This time it is particularly disappointing as Nadal was looking for the "Rafa Slam," or having won 4 straight majors in a row should he have won this tournament. Thoughts go out to Rafael and his fans after this unfortunate circumstance.
