Denis Shapovalov upset an out-of-sorts Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6 6-3 in broiling heat on Sunday to reach his first Australian Open quarter-final and set up a showdown with fellow lefthander Rafael Nadal.
Denis Shapovalov during his singles match against Vasek Pospisil at the ASB Classic Mens on 15 January 2020. Photo: Chris Symes / Photosport
The pugnacious Canadian was magnificent against the German third seed, earning one of his biggest career wins at Margaret Court Arena.
Zverev was only the second top-five player he has beaten, with the first Nadal, four years ago in Montreal.
Now the 22-year-old will bid to end the Spanish great's bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal survived a mammoth first-set tiebreaker before going on to beat fellow lefty Adrian Mannarino 7-6(14) 6-2 6-2 to set up the clash with Shapovalov.
Nadal and the Frenchman traded blows from the baseline during an engrossing 30-point tiebreaker lasting almost half an hour
The opening set lasted one hour and 21 minutes.
"The first set was very, very emotional," sixth seed Nadal, who saved four set points during the tie-breaker, said at Rod Laver Arena.
"Anything could have happened there. I was a little bit lucky at the end.
"Everybody knows how mentally (tough) this game is. It was a tough one and after that crazy first set, I think it was so important the break at the beginning of the second set," he said.
Monfils contiues wonderful start to 2022
Gael Monfils's blistering start to the season continued on Sunday as he eased past Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 7-5 7-6(4) 6-3 to reach his second Australian Open quarter-finals.
Gael Monfils Photo: Photosport
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. "I tried to be very aggressive today ... It was just battling, battling, hanging in there."
At 35 and recently married, Monfils has a new lease on life, and wants to go even further in the tournament.
"I want to do better .... We are not quite finished yet," he said.
Monfils will take on world number seven Matteo Berrettini for a semi-final spot after the Italian defeated Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets.
Berrettini has now reached the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams, becoming only the 10th active player to achieve the feat.
"I was really precise. I think he (Carreno Busta) wasn't reading my serve and that's why I did a lot of aces," Berrettini said.
"When my serve is working, it's always good for my tennis."
Womens top seed continues her run
Home hero Ash Barty will play an Australian Open quarter-final for the fourth straight year after defeating emerging talent Amanda Anisimova 6-4 6-3 in Melbourne on Sunday.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The world number one was able to handle a spirited challenge from the American, proving the steadier player on key points through the 74-minute contest at Rod Laver Arena.
"It was nice to be able to hold firm and bring the points back into my patterns more regularly and the big ones when it mattered most," said Barty.
Earlier in the day, Americans Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys and the Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova had won their matches to also qualify for the quarter finals.
