Rafael Nadal is back in a grand slam quarter-final for the first time in two years after the Spaniard battled past Gael Monfils at the Australian Open.
Nadal had not made it to the last eight of a major tournament since the French Open in 2015 but he continued his recent resurgence on Rod Laver Arena by beating Monfils 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-4.
The world number nine has looked rejuvenated in Melbourne and with Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray gone, he stands as a genuine contender to seal a 15th grand-slam triumph.
To do so, he will now have to overcome third seed Milos Raonic, the big-serving Canadian who had earlier beaten Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (8/6) 3-6 6-4 6-1.
The bottom half's other quarter-final will pitch Belgium's David Goffin against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
Goffin beat Dominic Thiem 5-7 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 6-2 while Dimitrov knocked out Djokovic's conqueror Denis Istomin 2-6 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 6-1.
Source: PA
