Shapovalov stuns Zverev; Nadal, Monfils in last 8

MELBOURNE, Jan 23: Denis Shapovalov upset an out-of-sorts Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in broiling heat to reach his first Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

The Canadian left-hander was magnificent against the German third seed, earning one of his biggest career victories at Margaret Court Arena.

Shapovalov blew a match point with a wild forehand into the tramlines but wrapped up the contest when Zverev netted under pressure.

The 14th seed will meet Rafael Nadal for a place in the semi-finals.

It was a disappointing exit for Zverev, who was bundled out of the quarter-finals by Novak Djokovic last year.

Rafael Nadal remained on course for a men's record 21st Grand Slam title after winning a battle of left-handers against France's Adrian Mannarino 7-6(14), 6-2, 6-2.

The only former champion left in the men's draw, 2009 winner Nadal is tied on 20 majors with injured Roger Federer and nine-times Melbourne Park winner Novak Djokovic, who was deported from Australia before the tournament began.

Mannarino had lost both his previous meetings against Nadal and came into the contest after a demanding third-round victory over Russian Aslan Karatsev in a match that lasted four hours and 39 minutes.

And after an intense opening set, which included a 30-point tiebreaker and lasted 81 minutes, the 69th-ranked Frenchman wilted under the blazing afternoon sun at the Rod Laver Arena as Nadal sealed the win with an ace on his first match point.

The former world number one will next meet another left-hander in Denis Shapovalov of Canada for a place in the semi-finals.

Gael Monfils's blistering start to the season continued as he eased past Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach his second Australian Open quarter-finals.

With wife and top women's player Elina Svitolina beaming in the crowd, the flamboyant Frenchman lit up the Margaret Court Arena with sparkling shot-making to reach the last eight at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2016.

"It was really tough, he played extremely fast on both sides," said 17th seed Monfils, who will play Matteo Berrettini, who beat Pablo Carrena Busta 7-5, 7-6(7-4), 6-4 for a place in the semi-finals.

World number seven Matteo Berrettini defeated Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-4 to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time. Berrettini, coming off a marathon five-set win over Carlos Alcaraz, showed no signs of fatigue as he struck 57 winners including 28 aces against Carreno Busta on a warm evening at Rod Laver Arena. 

Also read: Nadal, Zverev, Barty cruise; Osaka ousted

Also watch: