MELBOURNE, Jan 23: Rafael Nadal finally got the better of a crazy, long tiebreaker and knew he’d won half the battle.
After saving four set points and missing with the first six of his own, Nadal finally clinched a tiebreaker that lasted 28 minutes and 40 seconds to set himself on course to secure a spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals for a 14th time. Nadal is just three wins away from a men’s record 21st Grand Slam singles title.
Nadal will next play Denis Shapovalov, the 22-year-old Canadian who finished off a 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 win over Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev to reach the last eight in Australia for the first time.
Women’s No 1 Ash Barty advanced to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year when she beat 20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-3. She’ll next play No. 21-seeded Jessica Pegula, who beat fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari 7-6(0) 6-3.
French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova breezed to a 6-2 6-2 win over two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.
Matteo Berrettini completed a 7-5 7-6(4) 6-4 win over 19th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta in the last match on day 7. (AP)
