Rafael Nadal swept aside Italy’s Fabio Fognini to remain on course for a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title after reaching his 13th Australian Open quarter-final on Monday.
The World No 2 dominated flamboyant Fognini to reach a 43rd Grand Slam quarter-final and edge ever closer to overtaking Roger Federer for a 21st slam trophy.
Nadal entered the tournament with a back injury but he explained after his third-round win over Cameron Norrie that it had finally started to improve.
He has now reached the last eight without dropping a single set.
Fognini, who beat Nadal at the US Open in 2015 having come from two sets down, led by a break in the second set but couldn’t really challenge the second seed, who eased to a 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory.
Watch the highlights of the match below
Nadal will play Stefanos Tsitsipas for a place in the last four after Italian ninth seed Matteo Berrettini was forced to withdraw from his match against the Greek with an abdominal strain.
Berrettini suffered the injury during his win against Russian Karen Khachanov in the third round.
Nadal said: “My preparation has probably been worse this year than the year before because I had that problem with my back for the last 19, 20 days. I found a way to be what I am today and my feelings are right there without a doubt.
“I have made a step forward today, something that I needed, and I need to make another one for Wednesday against Tsitsipas.”
Oh wow, Nadal. Not dropped a set even while playing with a back injury? Very impressive.
Nadal is relentless!