Australian Open: Rafael Nadal Survives Epic Tiebreak to Power into Quarter-finals25Photo© news18.com

Australian Open: Rafael Nadal Survives Epic Tiebreak to Power into Quarter-finals

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Rafael Nadal came out on top of an epic 28-minute opening-set tiebreak in sapping heat to power past Adrian Mannarino into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday. The 20-time Grand Slam champion needed all of his experience and resolve to go on and claim a 7-6 (16/14), 6-2, 6-2 victory on Rod Laver Arena to reach the last eight. It is the 35-year-old Spanish great’s 14th quarter-final in his 17th visit to Melbourne. The sixth-seeded Nadal will next face either Germany’s third seed Alexander Zverev or Canadian 14th seed Denis Shapovalov in the quarters.

“I was a little bit lucky at the end of the tiebreaker, I had my chances but then he had a lot of chances too," Nadal said.

“That crazy first set was so important and the service break at the beginning of the second set too.

First set (was) very, very emotional,
Rafael Nadal,
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I started to feel not well in my stomach. They checked everything was all right with my body,
Rafael Nadal,
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It was very tough today. Honestly I didn’t practise for it,
Rafael Nadal,
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It was the most consistent and the best match I've had in the tournament,
Stefanos Tsitsipas,
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