Title : Nadal sweeps into Australian Open quarters, next meets US young gun Tiafoe
link : Nadal sweeps into Australian Open quarters, next meets US young gun Tiafoe
Nadal sweeps into Australian Open quarters, next meets US young gun Tiafoe
Rafael Nadal has routed Tomas Berdych in a masterclass to charge into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The 2009 champion was relentless at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, claiming the first two sets in an astonishing 51 minutes and firing 32 winners past the hapless Czech to reach the last eight at Melbourne Park for the 11th time, with a 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) victory.
Spaniard Nadal, who avenged his defeat to the former world number four in the quarter-final of the 2015 tournament, sealed the win on his first match point when the Czech hammered into the net.
Nadal is playing his first tournament since he pulled out of the 2018 US Open with knee soreness.
So far he has to be happy with his performance, conceding just 33 games in 12 sets.
Bidding for an 18th Grand Slam title, second seed Nadal will now play unseeded American Frances Tiafoe for a place in the semi-finals.
"I always say the same when I am back from injury. I don't expect negative or positive things," he told Channel Nine.
"I know — when you are back you need a bit of luck at the beginning because it's important the first couple of matches.
"That happened after I won the first couple of matches [now] I'm in the quarter-final. So let's see what can happen now."
Nadal and Tiafoe will meet for the first time on tour.
"He [Tiafoe] is playing great. He won [a] couple of great matches during the tournament," Nadal said.
"He's super quick and he's able to change directions fast.
"He goes to the net fast. He has huge forehand, good serve. So let's see.
"[It] always is special when you meet the opponent for the first time. And as always, in quarter-finals there is only one way [to win], is play very well."
Tiafoe celebrated his 21st birthday in style with a 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/1), 7-5 win over number-20-seeded Grigor Dimitrov to advance to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Tiafoe, who received treatment on his right forearm at the end of the third set, broke Dimitrov's serve in the 11th game of the fourth then held serve to end the three-hour, 39-minute match.
In typical style, Tiafoe took off his t-shirt, flexed his right bicep and waved to the crowd.
Then he sat in his chair and covered his head with a towel.
It's a big turnaround for the American at the Australian Open. He lost all three singles matches at the exhibition Hopman Cup three weeks ago, then was beaten in the first round at the Sydney International.
At Melbourne Park, he has beaten fifth seed Kevin Anderson and veteran Andeas Seppi before ousting Dimitrov from the tournament.
ABC/wires
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