Australian Open 2020 Quarter-final: Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem live match updates, live score & commentary

NADAL vs THIEM 6 -7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-7

Updated: 29 January 2020 18:55 IST - Published: 29 January 2020 11:30 IST

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THIEM WILL FACE GERMAN ALEXANDER ZVEREV IN THE SEMIFINALS ON FRIDAY WHILE FEDERER TAKES ON DJOKOVIC ON THURSDAY

AFTER AN EPIC THAT LASTED OVER FOUR HOURS, THIEM MADE HIS WAY INTO HIS FIRST AUSTRALIAN OPEN SEMIFINAL FIRING 14 ACES TO NADAL'S 11. THE AUSTRIAN GOT 59% OF HIS FIRST-SERVES IN AS COMPARED TO NADAL WHO MANAGED TO GET 70% OF FIRST SERVES IN

THIEM WAS THE BETTER PLAYER ON THE DAY BUT FAILED TO PUT AWAY THE WINNERS AT VITAL STAGES ALLOWING NADAL TO CLAW HIS WAY BACK AT VITAL STAGES OF THE MATCH - THE SMILE ON THOMAS MUSTER'S FACE SAID IT ALL - THE COACH KEPT URGING THIEM TO STAY CALM WHEN THE FOURTH-SEED LOOKED DISTRESSED AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO WIN SOME SIMPLE MATCH-POINTS

It will be hard to wipe the smile off @ThiemDomi's face any time soon 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3x8ZvCvTEk
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2020

It's been a story of breaking serves and being broken back almost immediately, it's been a story of pulsating tie-breaks, it's been a story of lasting it out in the heat and humidity of Melbourne as two perspiring champions engaged in a battle royale at the Rod Laver Arena with Dominic Thiem managing to outdo Nadal on a memorable evening

FINALLY - FINALLY, DOMINIC THIEM MANAGES TO FINISH OFF THE CONTEST - THE AUSTRIAN HAS MADE HIS WAY INTO THE SEMIFINALS OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2020!!!!

MATCH POINT AGAIN FOR THIEM AS THE BALL CATCHES THE TAPE OF THE NET IN THE AUSTRIAN'S FAVOUR!!!

SIX ALL - RAFA SAVES TWO MATCH POINTS - THIEM CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!!

NADAL SURVIVES AS THIEM LOOKS DISTRAUGHT

MATCH POINT FOR DOMINIC THIEM

THE SEE-SAW BATTLE CONTINUES - NADAL IS BACK IN THIS ONE - IT'S 4-5

THIEM INCHES CLOSER - IT'S 5-2 IN THE TIE-BREAK

ONE RALLY FOR THE AGES - AND THIEM IS THE WINNER - IT'S 4-2 AT THE RLA TIE-BREAK

A great leave from Thiem and it's 2-2 in the pulsating tie break

ONE ALL IN THE TIE BREAK AFTER THIEM FAILS TO PUT AWAY A DROP SHOT

NADAL LOSES OUT AT THE NET BUT FIRES IN A FOREHAND RETURN - IT ISN'T OVER YET!!! WE HAVE A TIE-BEAK YET AGAIN!!!

Thiem has another chance to clinch this marathon - but it's 0-15 as Nadal's volley is too good for the Austrian

NADAL SERVES TO MAKE IT 6-5 AND THIEM CAN ONLY SHAKE HIS HEAD AT THE OTHER END!!

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SEATS BECAUSE THIS CONTEST IS NOT OVER BY ANY MEANS!!!! IT'S 5-5 IN THE FOURTH SET

NADAL'S FANS COME ALIVE - IT'S 15-40 ON THIEM'S SERVE AS RAFA ATTEMPTS TO STAY IN THE CONTEST

DOMINIC THIEM DOUBLE FAULTS - CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

THIEM BEGINS WITH AN ARROGANT DOWN-THE-LINE WINNER BUT FAILS TO KEEP A VOLLEY IN - IT'S 15-15!!!

THE NET FAVOURS RAFA FOR ONCE AND THE SPANIARD STAYS IN THE CONTEST!!!

THIEM POWERS HIS WAY TO 30-40 AS THE CROWD ARE ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS AT THE RLA!

THIEM LEADS 5-3 AS HIS WINNER LANDS ON THE LINE - RAFA NEEDS TO CONTROL HIS SERVE TO KEEP HIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN HOPES ALIVE

Thiem begins with an ace but loses out in a witty rally - it's 15-15

RAFA HOLDS SERVE - JUST ABOUT - AND THE SPANIARDS FANS HEAVE A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF

IT'S 40-30 WITH NEITHER PLAYER WILLING TO CONCEDE AN INCH AT THE RLA

HOW MANY TIMES HAS THE NET FAVOURED THIEM THIS EVENING - RAFA CAN'T BELIEVE IT AS HE SERVES TO STAY ALIVE IN THE MATCH

A FANTASTIC ACE FOLLOWS A MAGNIFICENT FOREHAND - THIEM MAKES IT 4-2!!

Nadal stays in the contest after winning a fierce rally - it's 2-3 in the fourth set

Thiem wins the first point but Nadal finds a way back and serves at 30-15 with shouts of "Come on Nadal" resonating in the background

A lethal monster serve from Thiem has Rafa leaning in vain as the Austrian takes a 3-1 lead in the fourth set

Is it just us or is anyone else feeling like they can't sit still? 😬#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/LRcrKY2m3Z
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2020

It's 30-40 on Nadal's serve as both players look pensive - THIEM BREAKS NADAL - HOW CRUCIAL COULD THIS BE???

A stretched Thiem manages to hold serve

One error too many from Thiem as it's game point for Nadal

Nadal holds serve as Thiem appears to be short of ideas in the fourth set

It's almost been three hours but a perspiring Rafael Nadal displays fresh vigour while Thiem appears out of sorts

Never 👏 Count 👏 The 👏 World 👏 No.1 👏 Out 👏@RafaelNadal breaks Dominic Thiem on his second opportunity to take the third set 6-4.

Thiem leads two sets to one.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lsQxcgfDZT
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2020

NADAL TAKES THE THIRD SET AND WE ARE HEADED FOR ANOTHER CLASSIC ENCOUNTER AT THE RLA!!!

NADAL INCHES CLOSER TO BREAKING THIEM - IT'S 15-40 AS THE SPANIARD'S FANS ROAR IN THE GALLERIES

CAN NADAL FIND A WAY BACK - THIEM TRAILS 0-30

Nadal delivers with his renowned first-serve to stay in the contest - this is turning out to be a cracker of a contest at the RLA!!!

Going through the motions.

Trailing two sets to love, @RafaelNadal holds serve to lead 3-2 in the third set.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/zZT3ACQiJM
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 29, 2020

THIEM TAKES THE GAME IN A FLASH - CLINICAL AS EVER!!

DRAINED - NOT REALLY, SAYS THIEM WITH A BULLET OF A SERVE AND A GREAT SMASH!!!!

Nadal holds serve against an opponent who does look a wee-bit drained - at least for the moment