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The Spaniard was in danger of being thrashed
when Rublev led by a break in the second set, having dominated
the opener, but showed his trademark grit to battle back.
Rublev was unrelenting, however, and bludgeoned his way into a
5-1 lead in the second set after break the Nadal serve three
times. Nadal held serve but the 23-year-old world number eight
then finished it off with a crushing forehand winner.
It was Rublev's first win against Nadal and the first time had
managed to win a set.
The semi-finals have an unfamiliar look with Rublev up against
Norway's Casper Ruud who knocked out 2019 champion Fabio Fognini
6-4 6-3. In the other half Dan Evans, who beat world number one
Novak Djokovic on Thursday and followed up by knocking out David
Goffin, plays fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Nadal, 34, was playing his first tournament since losing to
Tsitsipas in the Australian Open quarter-finals, but had shown
no sign of rust while dropping only five games in his opening
two matches.
But Rublev proved a very different proposition with his
ultra-aggressive style preventing Nadal from being able to set
the pattern as he usually does on one of his favourite stages.
Nadal had no answer to Rublev in the first set and looked close
to defeat when Rublev had points for a double break in the
second set. He dug his heels in though and clawed his way back
to take the set in 74 minutes.
Normal service had not been resumed though as Rublev broke at
the start of the decider and although Nadal broke back
immediately, the Russian's brute force eventually wore down the
20-time Grand Slam champion.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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