Murray through after Nadal withdraws

The blockbuster Tuesday night men’s quarter-final between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray has unfortunately been cut short, Nadal retiring due to a right knee injury with Murray leading 6-3 7-6(2) 3-0.

It was an anti-climactic end to what had been a scintillating match. The two men had engaged in some spectacular rallies and executed incredible shots to keep the capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena enthralled for two-and-a-half hours.

Confirming that the injury was similar to the knee problems that plagued him throughout 2009, Nadal said that he refused to play through the pain on this occasion, a mistake he had made last year.

“So was impossible to win the match. When I have the chance to play (previously) I never retired. Anyway, like I know I (was) going to lose like I did in Rotterdam like last year. I say sorry to Andy for that,” he said.

“So I don't know if I still playing (that my knee) can go worse or something. So I said, well, no repeat the same mistake like I had last year. I go to the limit, but not cross the limit, no?”

Before Nadal’s injury, Murray played exceptional tennis. He took the initiative during rallies, served brilliantly, struck his backhand venomously and made several successful trips to the net.

The Scot said it was the kind of form that would stand him in good stead in his semi-final against No. 14 seed Marin Cilic, with the Croatian defeating No. 7 seed Andy Roddick in five sets earlier on Tuesday.

“I thought it was very good. You know, when the big moments came in the match, I thought I dictated what happened on the court … from my side, I played really well and, you know, deserved to be up when the match was stopped,” he said.

Nadal concurred, describing the Scot’s level as “unbelievable”.

“Andy played really well I think,” he said.

“His serve was unbelievable with my chances, with the 30-all, with the love-30, with the break-points. (I) just congratulate him because he's doing really well, and I think he (is) going to have a big chance to win this tournament.”

The standard of play was extremely high from the first point; Nadal won it with a delightful drop volley, but only after being forced to play it when Murray tracked down a Nadal forehand that would have been a winner against most other players.

Games went on serve until Nadal secured a break in the third game, aided by winning a sensational point that had both players scrambling all over the court before the Spaniard smacked a forehand winner down the line.

Murray levelled the set with an immediate break back, and saved three break points when down 0-40 to gain a tough service hold in the fifth game.

While Murray appeared comfortable trading shots from the baseline with the world No. 2 and looked extremely dangerous when he pulled the trigger on his groundstrokes, Nadal was lacking penetration in his shots and failed to hurt the Scot. Murray broke in the sixth game, and consolidated on it to take a commanding lead.

Murray clinched the first set in 52 minutes, yet Nadal looked to have settled into the match in the second set as games went on serve.

Play was halted after the fifth game for a nearby fireworks display to commemorate Australia Day, and Murray seemed to have lost focus when he returned to the court, failing to hold serve and allowing Nadal to move ahead 4-2. But in an exact repeat of the first set, Murray scored the immediate break back.

An epic 11th game saw Nadal save four break points. He exuberantly celebrated a volley winner with some intense fist-pumping, and, as the crowd responded enthusiastically, he punished a forehand up the line to go up 6-5. This was followed by an intense 12th game, in which Murray was forced to defend a barrage of bombs off the Nadal racquet to take the set to a tie-breaker.

The breaker was over in a flash; three consecutive forehand errors from Nadal and some powerful overhead smashes from Murray saw the Scot race to a 5-1 lead. He closed it out three points later, and took a two-sets-to-love lead after a 76-minute second set.

Midway through the second game of the third set, Nadal walked to his courtside chair to receive medical attention on his right knee from a trainer. Courtside microphones picked up Nadal explaining that he was having trouble pushing off on that knee.

Returning to court after a three-minute medical timeout, the Spaniard quickly fell behind 3-0 before deciding that he could not continue.

Because Nadal is now unable to defend all of the points he won in claiming the Australian Open title last year, world No. 3 Novak Djokovic is projected to replace him at No. 2 when the new rankings are published next Monday. Nadal could fall as low as No. 4 should Murray make it to the final, with the Scot expected to pick up enough points to leapfrog his vanquished opponent.

Fast facts

- Murray served 13 aces to Nadal’s one.

- Murray won 77 per cent of points when he landed his first serve.

- Nadal converted just two of 12 break point opportunities.

- Murray won 79 per cent of points when he approached the net.

Current Match on Rod Laver Arena Rod Laver Arena - Men's Singles - Quarterfinals Andy Murray GBR (5) 6 77 3 Retired Rafael Nadal ESP (2) 3 62 0 Match Statistics Serve Statistics