- Rafael Nadal was forced to pull out injured in the fifth set of his quarter-final
- The World No 1 had treatment on his back and upper leg in the fourth set
- Marin Cilic will now face British No 2 Kyle Edmund in the Australian Open semis
Marin Cilic will face Kyle Edmund in Thursday’s semi-final of the Australian Open after Rafael Nadal was forced to retire from their quarter final.
Cilic was leading 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 2-0 when Nadal, who had been having issues with his lower back and upper leg, abruptly shook the umpire’s hand an quit.
It was the second time in 24 hours that one of the Big Four was hampered by physical issues, with Novak Djokovic struggling in defeat the previous evening.
Rafael Nadal retired injured from his Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic
The rangy Croatian, winner of the US Open in 2014 and himself impaired in last summer’s Wimbledon final, has a 1-0 record against Edmund after beating him in Shanghai last October.
‘He had an amazing run at this tournament a few tough battles and a great match today,’ said Cilic of Edmund.
‘Congratulations to him, I have to keep on with my game as he has a great serve and forehand, I have to deal with my side of the court.’
He added that playing a stricken Nadal had not been easy: ‘It came back into my mind the Wimbledon match.
‘Sometimes when you are wounded you are a little bit looser. I had to keep my intensity and not look across the net. I think Rafa was struggling to retrieve my serve and I was playing better and better as it went on.’
Nadal had treatment on his lower back and upper leg during the fourth set of his last-eight tie
Marin Cilic will now face Kyle Edmund in the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Thursday