Nadal beats Shapovalov to reach the Australian Open semi-finals

Rafael Nadal wins a bad-tempered five-set Australian Open quarter-final, with Denis Shapovalov telling the umpire ‘you’re all CORRUPT’ and smashing his racket in a fury over his rival’s slow play

Rafael Nadal has booked his place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open
The Spaniard came through a five-set epic against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov
Nadal won the first two sets 6-3, 6-4 before Shapovalov came back to level
However Nadal showed his class in the fifth set to win it 6-3 and progress
Shapovalov savaged the referees and called them ‘corrupt’ earlier in the match

By Max Winters For Mailonline

Rafael Nadal has booked his place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open after winning a five-set epic against Canada’s Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday.

Nadal, looking for just his second title in Melbourne, raced into a two-set lead on Rod Laver Arena after winning the opening sets 6-3, 6-4.

But he was pegged back by Shapovalov, who won the third and fourth sets 6-4, 6-3 to take it a decider. However, Nadal booked his spot in the final four by claiming the decisive fifth 6-3.

Rafael Nadal is into the semi-finals of the Australian Open after beating Denis Shapovalov

Nadal raced into a 2-0 lead before being pegged back by the Canadian and then winning a fifth

Earlier in the clash, a furious Shapovalov savaged umpire Carlos Bernardes and called him ‘corrupt’ after he took issue with the time being given to Nadal to serve.

The young Canadian appeared to argue that Nadal should have been punished for taking too long.

After telling Bernardes to ‘code him’, Shapovalov asked ‘are you kidding me?’ when the umpire refused to cave into his demands.

Nadal, who called the trainer for an abdominal issue during the fourth set, lost from two sets up against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the same stage last year but he made sure there was no repeat.

More to follow.

SHAPOVALOV’S UMPIRE ROW

Shapovalov: ‘You started the clock like 45 seconds ago and he is not ready to play. You started the clock like so long ago and he is still not ready to play. You’ve gotta code him.’

Umpire: ‘Yeah. I code him now, now you are not ready to play?’

Shapovalov: ‘Code him!’

Umpire: ‘For what?’

Shapovalov: ‘He’s not ready to play!’

Umpire: ‘Yeah but you are not ready to play, because you came to talk to me.’

Shapovalov: ‘Are you kidding me?’

Umpire: ‘I’m not kidding you.’

Shapovalov: ‘You guys are all corrupt! You guys are all corrupt!’

Shapovalov savaged the referees and called them ‘corrupt’ earlier on Rod Laver Arena

The Canadian appeared to argue that Nadal should have been punished for delaying his serve

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