Rafael Nadal claimed his only Australian Open title in 2009, winning three of the previous four Majors and moving one step away from a career Grand Slam at 22! Nadal lost to Gael Monfils in Doha quarter-final and made a better start in Melbourne, toppling three rivals from outside the top-70 in straight sets to find himself in the last 16.In the fourth round, the Spaniard ousted world no. 14 and a former finalist Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 for another big step towards the trophy. World no. 8 Gilles Simon fell in the quarter-final 6-2, 7-5, 7-5, and Nadal set the all-Spanish semi-final encounter with Fernando Verdasco.It turned into an epic one, as Rafa prevailed 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 after five hours and ten minutes in one of the most …