Australian Open Day 8: Serena and Konta set up quarter-final clash, Nadal too good for Monfils

Serena Williams will return to the world No 1 ranking if she wins the Australian Open title. Kukas Coch / EPA

A round-up of Monday’s men’s and women’s singles action from the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

MEN’S SINGLES

Nadal reaches his first major quarter-final since 2015

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 No 1 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 3, but he has survived to reach his first major quarter-final since the 2015 French Open.

The Spanish world No 9 now has an excellent chance to add to his 14 grand slam titles after world No 1 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.”

Goffin grinds down Thiem

David Goffin wore down Dominic Thiem in intense heat to become the first Belgian man to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

The 11th-seeded Goffin equalled his best grand slam showing in reaching the last eight with a 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-2 win over the eighth-seeded Austrian in two hours and 44 minutes.

Goffin’s win in the second-set tiebreaker proved crucial as he powered on to victory on Rod Laver Arena, where ambient temperatures were above 35 degrees Celsius.

“I kept fighting, that was definitely key winning the second-set tiebreaker where I made some good returns,” Goffin said.

“I continued to push on in the rallies and I’m really happy to win. Mentally, I’m tired.”

Goffin knocked Thiem out in the third round of last year’s Australian Open, before losing to the Austrian in the quarters at the French Open.

He won on his second match point when Thiem netted a service return. It was the Belgian’s first victory over a top 10 player at a major.

Raonic remains on track

Third seed Milos Raonic came safely through a potentially tricky match against Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals for the third straight year.

The Canadian, the highest surviving seed after the early departures of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, stamped his authority on a sometimes tempestuous match by breaking the Spanish world No 13 to win the third set.

Teak tough Bautista Agut is nothing if not a fighter but Raonic, who said he had been suffering from a fever after his third-round match, raced away with the fourth set to seal the victory with a forehand winner down the line.

Raonic, who fired down 33 aces and 75 winners in the two hours and 52 minute contest, will next meet 2009 champion Rafael Nadal or Gael Monfils as he continues his quest for a first grand slam title.

Dimitrov ends Istomin run

Grigor Dimitrov swept past injury-hit Denis Istomin to reach the quarter-finals, ending the Uzbek wildcard’s fairytale run.

The Bulgarian 15th seed reached the last eight for the second time with a 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-1 win in two hours 25 minutes over Istomin, whose form fell away with an apparent back injury.

Dimitrov will face Goffin for a place in the semi-finals in the lower half of the draw.

Istomin, the world No 117, showed the effects of a demanding tournament following his sensational second-round upset of six-time winner Novak Djokovic.

His game deteriorated after losing a second-set tiebreaker and he had trouble getting around the court as Dimitrov charged to victory.

“Denis deserves all the credit for an unbelievable tournament, he has been on fire and he was striking the ball so well early in the match,” Dimitrov said.

“I felt well physically during the match and winning the tiebreak was a turning point. I was confident after that.”

WOMEN’S SINGLES

Serena impresses even herself

Serena Williams says she has impressed even herself with the way she keeps fighting at age 35, after battling into an 11th Australian Open quarter-final to keep pace with her sister Venus.

The American’s unrelenting quest for a record 23rd grand slam title and a return to the No 1 ranking was tested by Czech 16th seed Barbora Strycova, but she dug deep to win 7-5, 6-4 in hot conditions.

She will now face the Johanna Konta for a place in the semi-finals, after the Briton crushed Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-4.

Williams, seeded No 2, can again become world No 1 if she wins the title this week, with her desire to win still burning bright.

“I think it’s impressive. I think in general people our age aren’t really playing at a top level, so indeed, it’s definitely impressive,” she said, when asked about the capacity of her and her sister, who is 36, to keep playing.

“Venus and I are mentally eight and nine, so that’s why we’re probably able to play a little better.

“I feel like when you put in the hard work, the results, eventually, they show up.”

Konta ‘can’t wait’ for Serena showdown

Johanna Konta blasted into her second Australian Open quarter-final in as many years, setting up a glamour clash with Serena Williams.

The in-form British ninth seed, on a nine-game winning streak, crushed Russian 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-4 in searing heat on Margaret Court Arena.

It sets up an intriguing quarter-final with Williams, who battled through a testing match against Czech 16th seed Barbora Strycova 7-5, 6-4.

“I came out playing at a high level then she was able to pull herself back into it, which made it really difficult. I just tried to trust in myself,” she said.

“It will be an incredible honour and I can’t wait.”

Lucic-Baroni continues fairytale run

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni wound back the clock to make her first grand slam quarter-final in 18 years, extending a stunning comeback by the former child prodigy.

The unseeded Croat last got this far at a major tournament at Wimbledon in 1999, where she lost to Steffi Graf, before personal problems and injuries derailed her career.

She now gets another crack at the last four after sweeping past American qualifier Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-2, with either Karolina Pliskova or Daria Gavrilova up next.

“I always said I have the game. But to work so hard and make so many sacrifices, I hope no one is going to pinch me and wake me up because this is just incredible,” Lucic-Baroni said.

“I am a tough little cookie and really stubborn, when I want something I will work hard and do anything I need to get it. What a satisfaction.”

Pliskova dashes Aussie hopes

Karolina Pliskova dashed home hopes when she thrashed Daria Gavrilova to move into a quarter-final against Lucic-Baroni.

The fifth-seeded Czech shut out a partisan crowd on Rod Laver Arena to easily beat Australia’s Gavrilova, nicknamed ‘Dasha’, 6-3, 6-3 and reach the last eight for the first time.

It sets her up for a showdown against Lucic-Baroni, the feel-good story of the tournament who is into her first grand slam quarter-final since Wimbledon in 1999.

The Croat, who dropped out of top-level tennis for most of the 2003-2010 period following heartbreaking personal problems, swept past American qualifier Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-2.

“I’m so excited to be in my first quarter-final. It’s tough to play an Aussie girl, and I’m happy to fight to the last point,” Pliskova said.

“I’m feeling confident, much better than I did in the Grand Slams before the US Open. Everything is going my way now.”

RESULTS

Men’s singles

Fourth round

David Goffin (BEL x11) bt Dominic Thiem (AUT x8) 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-2

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x15) bt Denis Istomin (UZB) 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-1

Milos Raonic (CAN x3) bt Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x13) 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

Women’s singles

Fourth round

Johanna Konta (GBR x9) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x30) 6-1, 6-4

Serena Williams (USA x2) bt Barbora Strycova (CZE x16) 7-5, 6-4

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) bt Jennifer Brady (USA) 6-4, 6-2

Karolina Pliskova (CZE x5) bt Daria Gavrilova (AUS x22) 6-3, 6-3

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