Rafael Nadal’s Shocking exit from Australian Open!

Rafael Nadal left Australian open 2011 after sustaining a shattering hamstring injury early in his quarter-final. He lost to fellow Spanish player David Ferrer. Ferrer is to face Murray in the second semi-final on Friday night.

Nadal injured his left hamstring in the second game of his quarterfinal against David Ferrer and went down 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. After taking a medical timeout on the changeover down 2-1, Nadal returned to the court with his left thigh bandaged and had a hard time sprinting side to side or getting a good push off his leg. While he may have been able to take out a less fleet or less accomplished foe in a similar condition, it was an impossible task against his friend and Davis Cup teammate Ferrer, who is nearly as fast and is relentless from inside the baseline.

Nadal didn’t want to discuss the injury after the match, preferring to give credit to Ferrer. But he acknowledged that he couldn’t run the way he normally does after the injury timeout.

“I think he played at a very high level,” Nadal said. I just congratulate him and wish him all the best for the semifinal. I don’t have to tell you about what I felt on the court because I tried my best all the time. But is obvious that I didn’t feel at my best….Seems like I always have problems when I lose, and I don’t want to have this image”
Ferrer will face fifth seed and 2010 finalist Andy Murray in the semifinals, whom he owns a 3-2 record against. However, all those victories came on clay and Murray crushed him in the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in December.

World No.5 Murray’s drive remains as high as ever to join them atop the pedestal. ‘Andy’s a different player than Rafa,’ said the 28-year-old Ferrer.

‘I need to play very, very focused, to receive really good because Andy has a very good first serve.

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