World No 2 Rafael Nadal beat old nemesis Fabio Fognini in a scrappy affair to reach his 43rd Grand Slam quarter-final while Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev ensured Grand Slam history will be made for Russia after setting up an Australian Open quarter-final on Monday.
With qualifier Aslan Karatsev already through to face Grigor Dimitrov in the top half of the draw, it means there will be three Russian men in the last eight of a Slam for the first time since the Open era began in 1968.
Nadal, bidding for a first title at Melbourne Park since 2009, has yet to drop a set and kept the record intact against the fiery Italian, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
Later, ninth seed Matteo Berrettini pulled out of his fourth-round clash with Stefanos Tsitsipasbecause of an abdominal strain, giving the Greek fifth seed a walkover into a quarter-final against Nadal. The Italian was due to play in the late night match on Rod Laver Arena, but withdrew hours before it was due…
