Rafael Nadal comeback halted by Jordan Thompson in Brisbane

Jordan Thompson earned an incredible win under the Pat Rafter Arena lights, saving three match points to halt Rafael Nadal’s comeback in a classic, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-3.

"I completely forgot I saved match points," Thompson said on court after the match. "But to beat Rafa at home in Brizzy in a quarterfinal. I couldn't be happier.

"You guys got me through it," he added, sauluting the crowd. "That was something special!"

Thompson had never taken a set from the 22-time Grand Slam champion in two previous meetings, but played fearless tennis on the brink of defeat to edge past Nadal in his first tournament since returning to action from a hip injury that sidelined him for most of 2023, winning in a dramatic three hours and 25 minutes as the clock struck midnight Saturday morning.

"I think that train needed some WD-40 the whole match," Thompson joked of the squeaky train that twice nearly interrupted an epic match point. "It was too big a point not to concentrate."

I completely forgot I saved match points! Jordan Thompson

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has heavily hinted that 2024 would be his final season on tour but Nadal, who is projected to rise back into the Top 350 with this result, is turning back the clock with some style to start the season. He was yet to drop a set in Brisbane with wins over former world No. 3 Dominic Thiem, and Jason Kubler as he aimed to complete the semifinal line-up in Brisbane.

But before he could book a final-four clash with No. 2 seed Grigor Dimitrov, he first had to take on Thompson, whom he last played en route to victory at 2022 Roland Garros and defeated in straight sets.

Still, Thompson, who has scored wins over Andy Murray and Stefanos Tsitsipas had the home crowd on his side and was fresh from having played just one match this week, benefitting from a walkover given by No. 4 seed Ugo Humbert.

And the unseeded 29-year-old was indeed quicker out of the blocks, flipping a 40-15 deficit in the seventh game with a pair of winners to eventually nab the first break of the match. Nadal responded by racing ahead 0-40 in the following game, leveling the set with a searing forehand passing shot.

Nadal edged through a tight 10th game and soon found himself up three set points, outrallying Thompson on the second the put himself six games from the semifinals.

Following a this-time uncontroversial bathroom break, the pair continued to force the issue off the return early in the second set, forcing each to save break points in the first four games.

Nadal put himself four points from victory when he showed off vintage speed to track a Thompson drop shot, but missed a match point on top of the net to allow Thompson an opportunity to force a tiebreaker.

Nadal shook off a missed overhead to engineer two more match points with a thunderous stab volley, but Thompson kept pressing, saving a third match point with a big forehand. Turning the tables on Nadal, he delighted the crowd by evening the match with an overhead.

Thompson maintained his momentum early in the decider, moving to break point with a backhand return winner and converting with a forehand putaway.

Worryingly, Nadal took an off-court medical timeout after a love hold from Thompson put him two games from defeat, but emerged ready to battle and put down a love hold of his own and keep the pressure on his less experienced opponent.

Battling nerves and a noisy train as he served for the match, the Aussie dug out of a 15-30 deficit to arrive at match point, sealing the win with the longest point of the match.

"If I would have lost that point, I would have been cooked the rest of the match."

Thompson will next face Dimitrov for the chance to reach his first ATP final on hard courts.