Stefanos Tsitsipas mounted an incredible comeback from two sets down to defeat Rafael Nadal 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 7-5 in four hours and five minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
Tsitsipas becomes only the second player in history to defeat the Spaniard having lost the opening two sets at a Grand Slam – the last time being in 2015 when Fabio Fognini pulled off the same feat at the US Open.
Nadal seemed to be in cruise control after taking the first two sets with relative ease.
The Spaniard then only lost one point on serve in the third set before the tie-breaker where two wayward overhead shots gifted the Greek a route back into the match.
The momentum completely changed from that moment as Tsitsipas’ serve went up a level and he broke Nadal at 4-4 for a chance to serve for a final-set shootout, which he duly did.
The standard of tennis rose once more as both players battled their way through the fifth set. Tsitsipas finally stole the opportunity to break at 5-5 giving him the chance to serve for the match.
However, in typical Nadal fashion the Greek was made to work for it as he needed to stave off one break-back point before eventually sealing his passage into the semi-finals on the third-match point attempt.
The fifth seed spoke post-match about the stunning comeback: ‘I have no words to describe what has just happened on the court, my tennis speaks for itself.
‘It’s an unbelievable feeling to fight at such a high level and leave it all out on the court. I started very nervously. I don’t know what happened after the third set. I flew like a bird and everything worked for me.’
The win was only Tsitsipas’ second victory over the world No 2 and he spoke about the importance of holding his nerve in such a battle: ‘I focused on staying calm and holding my nerves today as I have failed to do so in some of the matches in the past.
‘I stayed calm in the tight moments and I kept everything to myself. I am really happy with the attitude that I showed on the court.’
The Greek will face Daniil Medvedev in the next round as the world No 4 came out on top in the all-Russian encounter to defeat Andrey Rublev in straight-sets.
On the women’s side, Ashleigh Barty was given her first real test in her quest for a first home Grand Slam title when she came up against 25th seed Karolina Muchova only to crash out 6-1, 3-6, 2-6.
Muchova gifted the Australian the first set by hitting 13 unforced errors before recovering from a break down in the second set to take the match to a deciding set, in which Barty struggled to find her earlier form.
Muchova will face Jennifer Brady in the semi-final of the tournament as the 22nd seed came from a set down to end her American compatriot, Jessica Pegula’s stunning run in the tournament in which the world No 61 defeated fifth seed Elina Svitolina and 12th seed Victoria Azarenka.
Meanwhile, Great Britain are guaranteed a contestant in the men’s doubles final as both British players Joe Salisbury and Jamie Murray will face off in the semi-final of the tournament after winning their respective quarter-final encounters in straight sets.
However, there was disappointment for Alfie Hewitt who was fresh from his doubles title in the men’s wheelchair final to play in the final of the singles’ final but was defeated by Joachim Gerard in three sets.
