Nadal, Serena cruise into quarter-finals

Legendary duo claim relatively comfortable wins in respective matches as other giants fall around them

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Rafael Nadal struggled into his first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2015 at the Australian Open on Monday, as Serena Williams accelerated towards a record title and the number one ranking.

Nadal, searching for a revival after injuries wrecked last season, was tested by France's Gael Monfils before winning 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to book a last-eight clash with Milos Raonic.

Nadal, 30, was also pushed to five sets by Alexander Zverev, 19, in round three, but he has survived to reach his first major quarter-final since the 2015 French Open.

The Spanish world number nine now has an excellent chance to add to his 14 Grand Slam titles after world number one Andy Murray and title-holder Novak Djokovic were both knocked out.

"I'm very happy being in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after a couple of years without being there," he said. "It's very special for me, especially here in Australia where I feel [it's] a little bit like home."

Meanwhile, a day after defending women's champion and top seed Angelique Kerber also fell by the wayside, Serena beat Barbora Strycova 7-5, 6-4 to set up a last-eight meeting with Johanna Konta.

The American great would gain much from winning in Melbourne, as she would overtake Steffi Graf's Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles and end Kerber's short reign as world number one.

In hot afternoon conditions, she fought off the Czech Republic's Strycova in two tight sets, following her sister Venus into the quarter-finals without dropping a set.

"I have absolutely nothing to lose in this tournament," said 35-year-old Serena. "Everything here is a bonus for me. Obviously I'm here to win. Hopefully I can play better, I can only go better."

Britain's Konta, the ninth seed, also reached the last eight with a perfect record in sets after a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory over Russia's Ekaterina Makarova.

Despite the task facing her, Konta was delighted to be playing Serena, a childhood idol, for what would be her second straight Australian Open semi-final.

"I'm really looking forward to the challenge and I'm looking forward to being on court, out on court with her and competing against her," said the 25-year-old. AFP