Rafael Nadal has progressed to the Australian Open quarterfinals with a straight-set win over Adrian Mannarino as the Spaniard continues his quest for a record-breaking 21st major title.
Nadal who is now 35 edged an epic 28-minute first-set tie-break as he eventually converted his seventh set point.
Mannarino struggled with injury after the tie-break, as sixth seed Nadal went on to claim a 7-6 (16-14) 6-2 6-2 win.
Nadal plays Denis Shapovalov next after he beat third seed Alexander Zverev.
Canadian 14th seed Shapovalov who is 22 reached his first Australian Open quarter-final with an impressive 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory over Germany's Olympic champion.
The exit of the 24-year-old Zverev, a 2020 semi-finalist, leaves Nadal as the highest-ranked player remaining in the top half of the men's singles draw.
Nadal last won the Australian Open in 2009 and five-time finalist in Melbourne.
[Source: BBC]
