Sport / Other Sport SEMIFINALISTS Injured Nadal retires on day of Aussie Open upsets BL PREMIUM

Melbourne — Rafael Nadal’s drive towards a second Australian Open title came to a shuddering injury-induced halt on Tuesday on a day of upsets that saw unseeded Kyle Edmund and Elise Mertens make the semifinals. The men’s world No1 retired against Marin Cilic after an upper right leg problem began troubling him during the fourth set on Rod Laver Arena, with the Spaniard wincing in pain as he struggled to continue. His 3-6 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 2-0 exit set up a last-four clash for the former US Open champion against Britain’s Edmund, who stunned third seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4. The South African-born Edmund, playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, showed no nerves as he blazed away with his fearsome forehand to subdue a jaded-looking Dimitrov. Edmund crunched 46 winners to Dimitrov’s 32 at a packed Rod Laver Arena. Mertens, who is yet to drop a set, was equally convincing in blasting past world No4 Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-0 to become the first Belgian to make the semis si...