SPORTS
In an often breathtaking clash boasting some sumptuous shot-making, the Spaniard was stunned by the hard-hitting Schwartzman who broke him three times before claiming the second set at Rod Laver Arena.
Spain's Rafael Nadal fought off tenacious Argentine Diego Schwartzman to win through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday, ensuring he remains world number one after the tournament ends.
Nadal was taken to four gruelling sets in almost four hours before winning 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena. It will be his 10th Australian Open quarter-final appearance, second only to Roger Federer, and he will face Croatia's sixth seed Marin Cilic. Nadal leads 5-1 in their previous meetings.
It was the Spaniard's fourth win over the Argentine but his toughest after beating him in straight sets in the second round at the 2015 US Open. By winning Nadal ensured that he will remain No.1 when the new rankings are released the day after the Open ends.
"Of course, I feel little bit tired, but yeah good. I was able to keep fighting until the end," he said. "It is the first big match I played in 2018. I started later than usual so a match like this probably helps because you know that helps confidence in myself. That's confidence knowing that I can resist almost four hours on court playing at a good intensity."
Nadal broke in the eighth game on the way to taking the opening set, but he encountered stiff resistance in the second set. There was six service breaks as Nadal could not shake off the tigerish Argentine, who levelled the match by winning the tiebreaker when the top seed's forehand was long.
There was a magical moment when Schwartzman ran down a drop shot and won the point with an angled volley across the net to break back at 4-4. Nadal took control in the third set with a break in the fourth game, but he had to fight off five break points before holding serve in a titanic 13-minute second game in the final set.
He broke in the third game of the fourth set, but had to make some monumental holds of service to keep Schwartzman at bay, winning on his third match point with a return winner. Diminutive Schwartzman, a quarter-finalist at last year's US Open, was bidding to reach the last eight for the first time in Melbourne. He endeared the crowd with the scampering around the court and his astonishingly powerful groundstrokes for one so small in stature.
.@RafaelNadal steps out onto RLA.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
With the world number carry on with his campaign, or will Diego Schwartzman continue his career-best #AusOpen run? pic.twitter.com/qzwXJo30KZ
Running to get to a TV screen like... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/0nzzBRb0Zp
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Serving up some quality #AusOpen tennis this afternoon... pic.twitter.com/T3UVvwYEke
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
That's just first-class, @dieschwartzman! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/sfkR9Ne94d
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Ridiculous Rafa. #AusOpen @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/O3t1VsYMEM
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
*insert Rocky music* @RafaelNadal#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/bhtTTIcxPu
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Not Diego-ing anywhere!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Schwartzman breaks back against Nadal to level it at 4-4 in the second set. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/nltBYJ2dje
out of , @dieschwartzman!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Vilxe6NaY2
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
The wide expanses of @RodLaverArena coming into play... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/t9izNoLq8i
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Another outrageous @dieschwartzman pass... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/4McpOJQCEm
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Sealed with an ace!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
They're tight and tense affairs but @RafaelNadal has taken the third set 6-3. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/wRgCzBCVxr
Changing your shirt takes some muscle #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ZJCxKAiYEf
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
That set winning feeling! @Kia_Motors #KiaTennis #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gPk5gwAisT
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
If you drop shot the King, you best not miss... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/l4sT92QRpH
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
The world No.1 trying to motivate himself after being on court for more than 3 hours already... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/gQNVCj7wjJ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
Things are tight on @RodLaverArena! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/sEbTnszi5r
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
He's done it! @RafaelNadal is through to the #AusOpen QF for the 10th time! pic.twitter.com/UJWEUSqWUx
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
"One match like this is confidence for myself... Knowing that I can resist almost four hours on court."
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
-@RafaelNadal #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GNvrzASObW
Relief.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
After almost four hours on court, that's the best way to describe @RafaelNadal's feeling right now...@Kia_Motors #KiaTennis #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Ex6ixCMGvw
@Kia_Motors #KiaTennis #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/5jVeemmKTR
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2018
(Inputs from PTI)
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