SPANISH national low-cost airline Vueling has announced numerous extra flights this summer, increasing frequency and destination choice for 2024.
Nadal reaches Australian Open semi-final
25/01/2017
Rafael Nadal has reached his first Grand Slam semi-final in three years, despatching Canada's Milos Raonic in ruthless fashion.
12 months after being dumped unceremoniously out of the Australian Open in the first round by compatriot Fernando Verdasco, Nadal put in a sublime performance to dismiss World No. 3 in straight sets (6-4, 7-6, 6-4).
A dip in confidence prompted by a series of health and injury struggles over the past few years had thrown doubt on the Spaniard's future on the big stage. A wrist injury made him miss the last few months of the 2016 season, but hard work in the off season and the addition of Carlos Moyà to his coaching team appear to have paid off with the Mallorcan earning his place in the final four at Melbourne Park with victories over up-and-coming Alexander Zverev, the flamboyant Gael Monfils and a in-form Raonic.
“It’s good news, especially winning against difficult players: Monfils quarter-finals, Zverev round of 16, and now Raonic,” said Nadal. “I think all of them are top players. So that's very important for me because that means that I am competitive and playing well.
“I’m just excited about being back in the final rounds of the most important events,” the Spaniard went on. “I am here to try to make this. It’s always difficult, but I fought and I worked hard to try to make that happen.
“I’m very happy that after a lot of work I am in this round again. It’ a special thing for me, especially here in Australia. I have been playing and competing very well during the whole event. That's very important for me.”
Nadal, looking for his 15th Grand Slam title, does not underestimate the threat posed by Grigor Dimitrov in Friday's semi-final clash. “He's a player that has an unbelievable talent, unbelievable potential. He started the season playing unbelievable. Is going to be a very tough match for me.”
However, the question on all tennis fans' lips is whether we will see another Federer-Nadal final. Roger Federer goes up against fellow countryman Stan Wawrinka in the other semi-final after blasting his way through the top half of the draw, taking out Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori and Andy Murray’s conqueror, Mischa Zverev.
The famous rivalry has not taken to the court since the 2015 Basel final, which Federer won in three sets, and not in a Grand Slam final since the 2011 Roland Garros championship match, which Nadal won in four sets. The pair contested the Australian Open final in 2009, with Nadal famously consoling a tearful Federer after prevailing in five sets.
In the women's draw Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza went out in the quarter-finals, finding no answer to the masterclass put on by the American CoCo Vandeweghe, who posted a confident 6-4, 6-0 victory over No. 7 seed Muguruza.
The all-Spanish pairing of Pablo Carreño Busta and Guillermo García López made it through to the doubles semi-finals on Thursday, only to lose out to the No.3 seeds, Bob and Mike Bryan.
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Rafael Nadal has reached his first Grand Slam semi-final in three years, despatching Canada's Milos Raonic in ruthless fashion.
12 months after being dumped unceremoniously out of the Australian Open in the first round by compatriot Fernando Verdasco, Nadal put in a sublime performance to dismiss World No. 3 in straight sets (6-4, 7-6, 6-4).
A dip in confidence prompted by a series of health and injury struggles over the past few years had thrown doubt on the Spaniard's future on the big stage. A wrist injury made him miss the last few months of the 2016 season, but hard work in the off season and the addition of Carlos Moyà to his coaching team appear to have paid off with the Mallorcan earning his place in the final four at Melbourne Park with victories over up-and-coming Alexander Zverev, the flamboyant Gael Monfils and a in-form Raonic.
“It’s good news, especially winning against difficult players: Monfils quarter-finals, Zverev round of 16, and now Raonic,” said Nadal. “I think all of them are top players. So that's very important for me because that means that I am competitive and playing well.
“I’m just excited about being back in the final rounds of the most important events,” the Spaniard went on. “I am here to try to make this. It’s always difficult, but I fought and I worked hard to try to make that happen.
“I’m very happy that after a lot of work I am in this round again. It’ a special thing for me, especially here in Australia. I have been playing and competing very well during the whole event. That's very important for me.”
Nadal, looking for his 15th Grand Slam title, does not underestimate the threat posed by Grigor Dimitrov in Friday's semi-final clash. “He's a player that has an unbelievable talent, unbelievable potential. He started the season playing unbelievable. Is going to be a very tough match for me.”
However, the question on all tennis fans' lips is whether we will see another Federer-Nadal final. Roger Federer goes up against fellow countryman Stan Wawrinka in the other semi-final after blasting his way through the top half of the draw, taking out Tomas Berdych, Kei Nishikori and Andy Murray’s conqueror, Mischa Zverev.
The famous rivalry has not taken to the court since the 2015 Basel final, which Federer won in three sets, and not in a Grand Slam final since the 2011 Roland Garros championship match, which Nadal won in four sets. The pair contested the Australian Open final in 2009, with Nadal famously consoling a tearful Federer after prevailing in five sets.
In the women's draw Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza went out in the quarter-finals, finding no answer to the masterclass put on by the American CoCo Vandeweghe, who posted a confident 6-4, 6-0 victory over No. 7 seed Muguruza.
The all-Spanish pairing of Pablo Carreño Busta and Guillermo García López made it through to the doubles semi-finals on Thursday, only to lose out to the No.3 seeds, Bob and Mike Bryan.
Related Topics
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