No. 1 Nadal retires injured at Australia Open
MELBOURNE, Australia: Rafael Nadal is out of the Australian Open after retiring in the fifth set of his quarterfinal match with Marin Cilic with an upper right leg injury.
Cilic had won the first two games of the final set when Nadal, who had taken a medical timeout in the fourth set to have his right leg and thigh massaged, called it quits after shaking the hand of the umpire.
Cilic beat Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 2-0 retired.
Cilic will play Kyle Edmund in the semifinals. The 49th-ranked British player beat Grigor Dimitrov in four sets earlier Tuesday.
5:40 p.m.
Kyle Edmund is through to the Australian Open semifinals after an upset 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov.
Edmund was the only British male player in the draw when Andy Murray withdrew to have hip surgery. Now Edmund is one win away from advancing to the final and a chance to win an Australian Open title — Murray has lost five times here in the championship match.
Edmund broke Dimitrov's serve in the ninth game of the fourth set when Dimitrov netted a backhand on break point.
Edmund set up match point with an ace and then waited while a video challenge confirmed that Dimitrov's floating backhander was long.
Edmund will play either top-seeded Rafael Nadal or No. 6 Marin Cilic in the first men's semifinal on Thursday.
Nadal and Cilic were set to play a quarterfinal on Tuesday night.
2:25 p.m.
Elise Mertens has taken a 10-match winning streak straight into the Australian Open semifinals.
The 22-year-old Belgian player had an upset 6-4, 6-0 win over No. 4 Elina Svitolina in the first women's quarterfinal on Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena.
Mertens, ranked 37th, successfully defended her Hobart International title two weeks ago, and has now won five matches at Melbourne Park.
Mertens dominated, leading 5-2 in the first set. She won a 27-point rally while holding serve in the fourth game of the second set, then hit a backhand winner into the open corner to break Svitolina in the next game for a 5-0 lead.
Serving the match, Mertens clinched it on her first opportunity with a backhand winner, then threw her arms up in the air in celebration.
Svitolina, 23, could have attained the No. 1 ranking after the Australian Open if she won and other results went her way.
Mertens will play either second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki or Carla Suarez Navarro in the semis. They play their quarterfinal on Tuesday night.
12:15 p.m.
Quarterfinal play begins at the Australian Open on Tuesday, with top-seeded Rafael Nadal continuing his quest for a second Australian title and 17th Grand Slam championship overall, and Caroline Wozniacki looking for her first anywhere.
Nadal will play the opening night match on Rod Laver Arena against Marin Cilic, who has lost five of six matches against the Spanish lefthander.
The second-seeded Wozniacki, who could return to the No. 1 ranking with a win here, plays Carla Suarez Navarro.
First up is a quarterfinal between No. 4 Elina Svitolina and Elise Mertens, who is on a nine-match winning streak.
That will be followed by the other men's quarterfinal Tuesday: Grigor Dimitrov against Kyle Edmund, the only British male in the draw after Andy Murray withdrew to have hip surgery.