THE last time Rafael Nadal played Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open, the Bulgarian was in tears at his post-match press conference, wondering if he’d ever get such a chance to beat him in a big match.
That 2014 clash was a quarter-final, his first in Melbourne, and tomorrow he will have another chance – this time with a place in the final up for grabs.
But Nadal is looking ominously good, his 6-4 7-6 6-4 victory over Milos Raonic yesterday sending him into the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time since the French Open of 2015.
“You can win or lose these kinds of matches,” the Spaniard said. “They are decided in a few points. He could have won the second set for sure. Today was for me.
“I feel very happy with my attitude and for the tennis, too. I hit some great passing shots. That's good news for me. When I make that happen, it's because I'm playing well.”
After a year in which he was afflicted by a wrist injury, Nadal has lost none of his fighting spirit, as he showed when saving six set-points in the second set against Raonic.
The Canadian missed one simple forehand on one of the set points but Nadal saved the rest and the third seed then double-faulted at 6-5 to let the former world No.1 back in.
After sneaking the tiebreak 9-7, Nadal relaxed and broke to love to win the match with a trademark forehand down the line.
He will carry a 7-1 head-to-head record into his clash with Dimitrov, and with his confidence rising with every match, he will be a big favourite to reach the final for the first time since 2014.
However, he will not underestimate Dimitrov, who at just 25 could still go on to deliver the Grand Slam title he has been tipped for most of his career.
“Everybody thinks that he's a potential Major winner,” Nadal said. “But he was there probably a little bit later than what we thought.
“He’s 25, still young, but that's not the new generation. He's a player that has been on the Tour for a lot of years already. He's a player that has an unbelievable talent, unbelievable potential. He started the season playing unbelievable.
“So it is going to be a very tough match for me. I hope for him, too. I'm going to try to play my best because I know he's playing with high confidence.”
“Right now I'm enjoying the fight, that’s for sure,” he added. “I'm enjoying running down every ball. I think also when you feel physically good and you feel well, that gives you a different perspective as soon as you get out on the court.
“Whoever you play, you know you're going to get your chance. That's already an advantage before you even step on the court."
There were times in his career when Dimitrov appeared not to be willing to put in the extra mile but under the guidance of Andy Murray’s former coach, Dani Vallverdu, things are working.
Dimitrov said he was looking forward to the opportunity but was under no illusion about the task facing him, with Nadal first and then either Roger Federer or Stan Wawrinka in the final.
“In order to win a Slam, there's no shortcut,” Dimitrov said. “When have you seen an easy semi-final or something like that? You have got to work for it. I have to fight, I have to be ready.”
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