Australian Open 2017: David Goffin beats Dominic Thiem to reach quarter-final

And not only, because Federer was able to reach the simis in Melbourne, after the great performances against Kei Nishikori and Mischa Zverev. He made the semi-finals and a finals of three Masters Series events. At age 29, he’s still younger than Federer, even though he has a losing record to him, the few times they have played each other. The Canadian, who is eyeing his first Grand Slam, showcased his class with booming serves that won him 33 aces.

“Being in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam after couple of years not being there is very special for me”, said Nadal, who last progressed this far at the 2015 French Open.

So once again the tennis world can think about “Fedal” – the appellation long ago applied to the two players’ rivalry. Alexander Zverev led the ninth-ranked Spaniard two sets to one in the third round but ended up going down 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2.

The great man underestimated himself when he came to Melbourne, having delivered a mixed bag of results at the Hopman Cup exhibition in Perth. So going to be a very tough match, no? “I love the game, I love being out here”, said the six-time champion.

Where the Swiss is a player of grace, the Spaniard is a player of grit.

Spanish bull Rafael Nadal has foiled a comeback by sixth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils to book an Australian Open quarter-final berth.

Rafael Nadal, just two wins away from reaching his first Grand Slam final in three years, will have to contend with rising Canadian Milos Raonic during the quarterfinals of the 2017 Australian Open at the Rod Laver arena on Wednesday evening.

“God, it’s killing me”, a broken down Federer cried as the victor of the match, Nadal comforted him. Another theme of these two sets was how much he worked his opponent side-to-side.

He advanced to the last eight here for third straight year with a 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over No. 13 Roberto Bautista Agut.

That it has happened, has left everyone wanting with a Federer-Nadal duel in the summit round.

There he’ll face Grigor Dimitrov, who is riding a 10-match unbeaten run after winning the Brisbane title.

What has Nadal been saying? “He beat me two weeks ago in Brisbane in a tough match so I chose to go a little bit more inside the court on the return tonight”, Nadal said.

“Champions know how to win”, Agassi told AAP on Saturday.

“I really have to say thank you for the crowd today and the past days, because even with Novak, in the beginning it was like they’re cheering Novak and me, but then in the end they’re cheering me more”, Istomin, who won the Asian wildcard playoff to qualify for the Australian Open, said.

“You’ve got to believe the same with Nadal”.