Victory important for Nadal’s confidence
MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal overcame a shaky serve and a secondset wobble to see off Fabio Fognini in straight sets and progress to his 13th Australian Open quarterfinal last night.
After winning the first set, Nadal slumped to a 42 deficit in the second before reeling off four consecutive games to set up the 63, 64, 62, victory.
Nadal is now into his 43rd career grand slam quarterfinal, and the back injury that ruled him out of the ATP Cup is now looking like a distant memory.
‘‘I’m happy to be through today; it’s an important victory for my confidence,’’ Nadal said.
Triumphant ATP Cup teammates Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev will clash in an allRussian quarterfinal after continuing their blazing summer run at Melbourne Park yesterday.
The redhot Medvedev extended his winning streak to 18 matches with a 64, 62, 63 fourthround victory over unseeded American Mackenzie McDonald before Casper Ruud retired hurt in his match against Rublev.
The seventhseeded Rublev was leading 62, 76 (73) when the Norwegian called it quits.
Medvedev had been pushed to the limit in his thirdround victory over Filip Krajinovic but there was no such trouble against McDonald.
‘‘It was a great match. I was feeling the ball great, I was serving great,’’ the 2019 US Open runnerup and 2020 ATP Finals champion said.
Rublev enjoyed a breakout season last year, reaching the last eight of the French and US Opens and chalking up a tourbest five titles.
His rise is showing no sign of slowing, the 23yearold winning all eight matches he has played in Australia this summer.
But the world No 8 faces his sternest test yet against Medvedev tomorrow.
‘‘At least one of us will be in the semis so it’s good news but it’s going to be a tough match,’’ Rublev said.
Qualifier Aslan Karatsev is also through to the last eight, giving Russia three men in the quarterfinals of a slam for the first time in the 53year open era.
Wounded Novak Djokovic admits he is taking a gamble by continuing at the Australian Open but said it was worth it to try to claim a recordextending ninth title.
The 33yearold suffered an injury he described as ‘‘a tear’’ to his right side against Taylor Fritz in the third round on Friday, but was fit enough to beat Milos Raonic 76 (74), 46, 61, 64 late on Sunday and reach the quarterfinals.
The world No 1 said he has been having extensive treatment and was on painkillers, but declined to actually explain what the injury was.
In the women’s draw, Jessica Pegula continued her dream run yesterday with a 64, 36, 63 win over fifth seed Elina Svitolina to set up an allAmerican quarterfinal against good friend Jennifer Brady, who beat Croatian Donna Vekic 61, 75. — AAP/Reuters