Rafael Nadal returned to the grand slam stout-time by fending off Gael Monfils 6-3,6-3, 4-6, and 6-4 in a tense clash on Monday to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals,the Telegraph reports.
Former champion Nadal had not reached the last eight in a major since the 2015 French Open, so he celebrated wildly after closing out the two-hour 56-minute clash at a packed Rod Laver Arena.
It was not the most convincing of wins for the 30-year-old Spaniard, and who was rattled when Monfils rallied in the fourth set,but the 14-times grand slam champion was clinical when it counted to preserve his pursuit of a 15th major title alive.
Source: tert.am