Stefanos Tsitsipas Produced a remarkable five set comeback by beating Rafael Nadal 3-6 2-6 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.
After being dominated for the first 80 minutes, Tsitsipas rallied and fought to grind out a five set win to progress to the last four.
The Greek is only the second player to beat Rafael Nadal from two sets to love down at a grand slam.
Tsitsipas will now play close rival Daniil Medvedev in Friday’s semi-final.
This result didn’t look anywhere near like happening after the first two sets, with the Spaniard dominating the match.
In the first set, the match was pretty even until the eighth game where Tsitsipas started to produce careless unforced errors allowing Nadal to produce his best tennis when it matters.
Nadal, showing his champion qualities, managed to break for a 5-3 lead and hold to take the opening set in 39 minutes in what was a solid display from the 20-time grand slam champion.
In search of a record-breaking grand slam total the second seed continued to dictate points and dominate proceedings as he took advantage of every mistake from Tsitsipas.
Two breaks in the opening five games all but sealed a two sets to love lead as Nadal dominated on serve and using the angles well.
Tsitsipas’ slice clearly didn’t work with the Spaniard smiling at every shot of that type coming towards him.
Although a two set deficit was established, never count out Tsitsipas just ask Novak Djokovic from his match at Roland Garros.
In the third set, Tsitsipas managed to hang on and remain solid on serve as Nadal couldn’t create any opportunities for a critical break.
Then the Greek capitalised on a dip of form from Nadal to pounce and take a third set tiebreak 7-4.
In the next two sets, Tsitsipas raised his game with the forehands punishing Nadal at every turn as it was now his turn to construct devastating patterns of play.
Good adaptation of tactics allowed the Greek to break in a long ninth game and close out the fourth set 6-4.
A similar pattern followed in the fifth set as it was Tsitsipas who was now playing the more powerful and better tennis.
The Spaniard failed to take his mini-chances and was now making some rash decisions on the court.
A poor game at 5-5 allowed Tsitsipas the opportunity to close out a famous victory.
Despite being 0-30 down, the world number 12 closed out the win on his third match point and sealed one of the best wins of his career in four hours.
A remarkable win which saw only his second victory from two sets to love down.
As for Nadal, that is only his second loss from two sets to love up after losing to Fabio Fognini in the US Open in 2015.
Tsitsipas will now look to make his first grand slam final when he takes on Daniil Medvedev on Friday.
