Nadal: Denis will be menace

HISTORY-CHASING Spaniard Rafael Nadal believes the next opponent in his pursuit of a second Australian Open title could win multiple grand slams.

The former world No.1 moved into the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for a 14th time with an at-times wild 7-6 (16-14) 6-2 6-2 triumph over veteran Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Sunday.

Mannarino sent a scare through the Nadal camp in an 81-minute opening set that extended to a 30-point tiebreaker – but it was smooth sailing once the Spaniard clinched it.

With dual champion Victoria Azarenka exiting the tournament earlier in the day, Nadal is the last-standing Australian Open singles winner.

But he must get through 14th seed Denis Shapovalov to keep his hopes alive, after the Canadian upset one of the title favourites in third seed Alex Zverev.

“When I played against him (in 2017), after the match I said he is going to be a potential multi-grand slam winner,” Nadal said.

“I still think that if he’s able to keep improving, he will be a multi-grand slam winner.

“He has a lot of amazing things in his game, and his results say that.

“When he’s playing well, it’s very difficult to stop him.”

Nadal last won the Australian Open 13 years ago, but he was runner-up in 2012 (Novak Djokovic), 2014 (Stan Wawrinka), 2017 (Roger Federer) and 2019 (Djokovic), so there is unfinished business.

Neither Djokovic (vaccinerelated deportation) nor Federer (knee injury) is in Melbourne, meaning Nadal is the only one who could break their record-smashing grand slam men’s singles title deadlock.

A second Australian Open victory would move the 35year-old tennis legend clear on 21 and see him join Djokovic in winning each grand slam at least twice.

Nadal’s months-long absence with a foot issue last year has changed his outlook, but he is still a dominant force when healthy.

He skipped the ATP Cup to play in the ATP 250 event in Melbourne pre-Open, with his 89th tour-level title there bankrolling what is now an eight-match winning streak, including a walkover.

Nadal is even surprising himself, saying he didn’t expect to be in this position only weeks ago.

“The main thing is (to) be healthy enough to be here,” he said.

“In terms of tennis, I am happy in general terms, of course … things are going much better than expected, without a doubt.

“I am enjoying the fact that I am again in the quarter-finals of a grand slam, something that is very special for me.”