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Tennis: Pumped-up Nadal into Melbourne quarters but Zverev sent packing

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Martin PARRY, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Spain" s="" Rafael="" Nadal="" celebrates="" winning="" his="" fourth="" round="" match="" against="" Adrian="" Mannarino.="" Morgan="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/sports/01/23/01232022-tennis_rafael-nadal.jpg"/><figcaption>Spain&#x27;s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his fourth round match against France&#x27;s Adrian Mannarino. Morgan Sette, Reuters.</figcaption></figure></div>MELBOURNE, Australia -- (UPDATED) Rafael Nadal survived an epic 28-minute tiebreak to seal his spot in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and top seed Ashleigh Barty joined him with victory over giant-killer Amanda Anisimova on Sunday.Nadal will now face Canada&#x27;s 14th seed Denis Shapovalov after he stunned third seed and Olympic champion Alexander Zverev -- who said &quot;everything&quot; went wrong.Nadal, who is chasing a men&#x27;s record 21st Grand Slam title, was pushed all the way by Adrian Mannarino in an 81-minute first set before breaking the Frenchman&#x27;s resolve in a 7-6 (16/14), 6-2, 6-2 victory.&quot;First set was very emotional,&quot; said the 35-year-old Nadal, the 2009 Australian Open champion, who pumped his fists after emerging victorious from a marathon first-set tiebreak on a steamy day in Melbourne. &quot;That crazy first set was so important.&quot;The Spaniard, who dropped a set for the first time in the tournament before powering past Russia&#x27;s Karen Khachanov in the previous round, will now face Shapovalov in the last eight.The 22-year-old Shapovalov -- who tested positive for Covid when he landed in Australia earlier this month -- left Zverev still searching for a first major title after beating him 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.The German smashed his racquet and afterwards failed to find any positives.&quot;Today, in my opinion, was just awful from my side,&quot; he said.Asked what went wrong by reporters, he replied: &quot;Everything.&quot;In action later is Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini against Spanish 19th seed Pablo Carreno Busta.Flamboyant 17th seed Gael Monfils, unbeaten this year after winning a warm-up event in Adelaide, is yet to drop a set and comes up against Serbia&#x27;s Miomir Kecmanovic.The ageless 35-year-old Frenchman Monfils is targeting a second quarter-final appearance at Melbourne Park and the first for six years.- Barty powers on -In the women&#x27;s draw, home hope and world number one Barty thrilled the crowd by defeating 60th-ranked Anisimova 6-4, 6-3. The Australian faces another American, Jessica Pegula, in the last eight.The 20-year-old Anisimova beat Olympic champion Belinda Bencic and was fresh from knocking out defending champion Naomi Osaka.But she came up against a Barty who looks in irresistible form as she chases her first Australian Open crown.Reminded that last year&#x27;s Australian Open went behind closed doors mid-tournament because of Covid, Barty told an adoring Rod Laver Arena crowd that playing in front of them was &quot;a lot more fun&quot; than seeing empty seats.&quot;Last two years have been extraordinarily tough for many people around the world,&quot; said the down-to-earth 25-year-old, the reigning Wimbledon champion and a former Roland Garros winner.The 21st-seeded Pegula, who revealed earlier this week she has been relaxing by spending every night at the casino, was a surprise winner over fifth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece.Also into the last eight is French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova.She blew away former two-time Melbourne champion Victoria Azarenka, who had a neck problem, to set up a meeting with unseeded American Madison Keys.Fourth seed Krejcikova of the Czech Republic powered through 6-2, 6-2 against the Belarusian, who won the title in 2012 and 2013.&quot;It was really amazing today because she is a champion here and she likes this court, she&#x27;s very experienced on this court,&quot; said Krejcikova of Azarenka.Keys raced past Spain&#x27;s Paula Badosa, seeded eight, 6-3, 6-1.Keys, who beat 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the first round, said she had brought a fresh perspective into 2022 after struggling with the Covid-enforced bubble life on tour last year.&quot;I don&#x27;t really thrive when my entire life becomes about tennis,&quot; she said.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Rafael Nadal survived a marathon first-set tiebreak to seal his spot in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.

Tennis: Pumped-up Nadal into Melbourne quarters but Zverev sent packing

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Tennis: Pumped-up Nadal into Melbourne quarters but Zverev sent packing

Martin PARRY,

Agence France-Presse

Published Jan 23, 2022 05:57 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 23, 2022 08:26 PM PHT

Read More:

tennis

Australian Open

Rafael Nadal

Denis Shapovalov

Alexander Zverev

Adrian Mannarino

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