SIDEBAR: Emotional Nadal shattered in defeat

Jan 26, 2011, 13:43 GMT

Melbourne - Rafael Nadal's dream of four straight Grand Slam titles ended Wednesday, with the world number one shattered by a 6-2, 6-3 quarter-final loss to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer at the Australian Open.

Nadal suffered from what appeared to be a hamstring injury, but the top seed refused to confirm any diagnosis.

'It was a difficult day for me, I tried my best, I couldn't do more,' he said.

'Tonight I think I played against a great player, a great opponent. Today I really can't do more than what I did. So he played at a very high level, and I wasn't able to compete against him tonight.'

Nadal appeared close to tears in the closing stages of the loss after seeming to pick up the injury in the long, 17-minute second game of the match against his seventh-seeded opponent.

'It's obvious that I didn't feel at my best. I had a problem during the match, at the very beginning. After that, the match was almost over.

'For me it's difficult come here and speak. In Doha (early January) I wasn't healthy (virus). Today I have another problem. Seems like I always have problems when I lose, and I don't want to have this image.

'I prefer not to talk about that today.'

Nadal's loss sends Ferrer into the semi-final against 2010 finalist Andy Murray.

'This is one of my bad moments,' said Nadal. 'One of the negative moments. That's part of the sport. I'm a very lucky sportsman in my career.

'I have to accept the fantastic moments that I had during a lot of years with the same calm as when I have problems. And if I am ready to accept both things ... I'm going to be able to come back and play my best tennis another time.'

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