Australian Open: Rafael Nadal is eliminated by Dominic Thiem.

Rafael Nadal eliminated from the Australian Open by Dominic Thiem

The Spanish player Rafael Nadal, world number one, was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday by the Austrian player Dominic Thiem (5th), who won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), in his first victory over his rival in a Grand Slam tournament.

"I was lucky in the crucial moments, the net was in my favor," said Thiem, especially referring to the penultimate point of the match, when one of his shots hit the net and became a point for the Austrian.

"But Rafa is one of the best in the world and you always need luck to beat him," added Thiem, who was aided by the net in several points.

At the end of a match of rare intensity, both physically and emotionally, the 28-year-old Austrian, who had lost to Nadal in the last two finals of Roland Garros, qualified for his first semi-final in Melbourne, where he will face the German Alexander Zverev (7th).