Australian Open: Rafael Nadal Eliminated In Four-Setter Against Dominic Thiem

Rafael Nadal's fate in Melbourne Park for the bid for his 20th Grand Slam title got snapped in a shock defeat to Dominic Thiem in their quarter-final match.

The world number could have set a semi-final match with German veteran Alexander Zevrev but was outclassed by the Austrian in a match that ran through four sets with three tiebreaks, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 4-6 7-6(8).

However, Dominic could wrap the fourth set up without having to go through a tiebreak but failed to seize the opportunity to serve out the Spaniard who rallied to level points in the tiebreak before the Austrian won two match points to claim the victory.

The 26-year-old confessed after the match that beating the world number one was as a result of having "luck in the right situation" and such that is a "mentally strong situation" for him to secure qualification for the last four.

"It was a mentally tough situation but I turned it around again in the tie-break," said Dominic. "I had luck in the right situations, the net cord on my side. But it is necessary because he is one of the greatest of all time and you need some luck to beat him."

Zevrev who reached the last four in a comeback to oust Argentine player Stan Wawrinka in four sets, 1-6 6-3 6-4 6-2, will face the Austrian who eliminated him in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals at the O2 Arena last year.