Melbourne Summer Set 2022: Rafael Nadal Eases Into Semifinals Without Hitting A Shot

Rafael Nadal has advanced to the semifinals of an ATP tournament in Melbourne without taking the court in his quarterfinal match. The 20-time Grand Slam singles champion received a walkover in the Melbourne Summer Set 2022 on Friday when his Dutch opponent Tallon Griekspoor withdrew. (More Tennis News)

Officials didn’t initially confirm why Griekspoor couldn’t play. It was only one day after Nadal played and won his first competitive match in five months, beating Ricardas Berankis in straight sets. He will play unseeded Emil Ruusuvuori on Saturday for a place in the final. Ruusuvuori earlier beat Alex Molcan 6-2, 6-1.

In other men’s play Friday, Marin Cilic and top-seeded Gael Monfils won their quarterfinals at the Adelaide International. Cilic beat Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-2 and Monfils defeated sixth-seeded Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-1.

Second-seeded Simona Halep advanced to the semifinals of the Summer Set 1 tuneup event in Melbourne with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Viktorija Golubic. Zheng Qinwen also advanced after beating Ana Konjuh 7-6 (1), 7-6 (6).

Top-seeded Naomi Osaka was scheduled to play her quarterfinal match on Friday night. In quarterfinal play of the WTA’s Summer Set 2 in Melbourne, Amanda Anisimova beat Irina-Camelia Begu 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and Daria Kasatkina had a 7-5, 6-1 win over Nuria Parrizas Diaz.

At the Adelaide International, a WTA 500 event, top-seeded Ash Barty was playing her quarterfinal match later Friday against 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin. In earlier results there seventh-seeded Elena Rybakina beat Shelby Rogers 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The Adelaide and Melbourne tournaments are two of six tune-up events being staged in Australia this week ahead of the season-opening major at Melbourne Park, which starts on January 17.