The two tennis heavyweights went toe-to-toe in the quarter-finals of a classic in China this morning.
Nadal got a single break to take the first set 6-4 before Dimitrov levelled after a second-set tie-break.
The Spaniard held serve in the opening game of the deciding set before a tense second game was level at 15-15.
And it was then when the point of the tournament so far was played out.
Dimitrov served out wide but Nadal managed to claw a backhand into play to set up the prolonged exchange.
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The Bulgarian reacted with a backhand slice into the Nadal forehand and the pair proceed to trade cross-court blows.
Nadal then takes a gamble with a monster forehand up the line that looks to have won him the point.
But Dimitrov had other ideas, making good ground to his forehand side before unleashing a stunning cross-court winner past the world No.1.
The point had the crowd on their feet while Dimitrov reacted with a huge roar.
Dimitrov took Nadal into a decider at the China Open last week only to go off the boil when it mattered most.
And the same happened in Shanghai as – despite Dimitrov’s stunning winner here – Nadal roared back to take a 6-4 6-7 6-3 win.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion meets Marin Cilic in the semis tomorrow.