Australian Open: Nadal retires hurt, Cilic through to semi-finals
Marin Cilic will face Kyle Edmund in the last four in Melbourne after Rafa Nadal's Australian Open bid was ended by injury on TuesdayRyder Cup 2018 final day: Europe vs USA, Sunday singles
Rafa Nadal's bid for a second Australian Open title was brought to a shuddering halt on Tuesday as the injured Spaniard limped out of his quarter-final with Marin Cilic.
Leg issue ends Nadal's Melbourne hopes
Nadal retired after an upper right leg problem began troubling him the fourth set on Rod Laver Arena, with the world number one wincing in pain and limping as he struggled to continue.
Cilic faces surprise package Edmund in semis
His 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 2-0 exit set up a last-four clash for former US Open champion Cilic against unseeded Briton Kyle Edmund, who stunned third seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Little separated Nadal and big-hitting Cilic until the injury struck, as they traded ferocious groundstrokes in an intense battle.
But Nadal, who was beaten in last year's final by Roger Federer, called the physio at 1-4 in the fourth set and again at the changeover when two sets apiece and the writing was on the wall.
Cilic: "Really unfortunate for Rafa"
"It was an unbelievable performance from both of us," said Croat Cilic, the sixth seed. "It is really unfortunate for Rafa to finish this way."
Nadal's retirement follows the departure on Monday of Novak Djokovic, with his immediate playing future uncertain after an elbow injury flared. He also appeared to have a hip problem.