Spain reigns: Nadal through to last eight
Rafael Nadal’s bid to win a record 21st grand slam title appears on course after he sailed into the quarterfinals of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Fabio Fognini.
The Spaniard, who came into the tournament with serious concerns over a back problem, showed no sign of any discomfort and said: “My physical condition needs to keep improving, but this match helps.”
Fognini, who came from two sets down to beat Nadal at the US Open in 2015, swiftly succumbed to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 defeat in Melbourne yesterday.
Rafael Nadal looks to be peaking at the right time after brushing aside Fabio Fognini to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The second seed came into the tournament with serious concerns over a back problem but revealed, after beating Britain's Cameron Norrie in the third round, it had finally started to improve.
Fognini came from two sets down to beat Nadal at the US Open in 2015 but, after failing to convert a lead in the second set, he swiftly succumbed to a 6-3 6-4 6-2 defeat.
Nadal, bidding to win a record 21st grand slam title, has not dropped a set at a slam since losing in the quarterfinals in Melbourne last year to Dominic Thiem.
He said: "The first set, without a doubt, has been my best level in the tournament. It's normal, too, because I was able to practise for two days in a row. That makes an important difference. But, at the same time, it's important to find positive feelings now. My physical condition needs to keep improving. But I think this match helps, too."
The crunch moments of the match came in the second set, where Fognini led 4-2 and had three chances to make it 5-3, only for Nadal to reel off four games in a row.
The Spaniard next faces fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who reached the last eight without taking to the court after opponent Matteo Berrettini withdrew because of the abdominal injury he suffered in his third-round win over Karen Khachanov.
Nadal has won six of his previous seven meetings with Tsitsipas.