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SPORTS Monday 22 January 2018

Nadal, Dimitrov advance to

Australian Open quarterfinals

By JOHN PYE 100th Grand Slam match win over Andreas Seppi
AP Sports Writer win with a 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 and could relax and watch
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) (0), 7-6 (3) victory over No. the night-time entertain-
— After snuffing out local 10 Pablo Carreno Busta. ment featuring Dimitrov
hopes for yet another Aus- “I had the 300th win of my and Kyrgios.
tralian Open, Grigor Dimi- career at the U.S. Open in They all played two weeks
trov huddled with Nick Kyr- 2014, so this is also beautiful ago in Brisbane, where Ed-
gios at the net and the pair one,” Cilic said of his latest mund lost to Dimitrov, who
exchanged encouraging major milestone. “I hope lost to eventual champion
words. I’m going to continue and Kyrgios.
It was Kyrgios, having just gather three more here.” Both Dimitrov and Kyrgios
lost 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 Nadal lost last year’s Aus- got tense at key times in
(4) in the fourth round in tralian Open final to Roger the night match. Dimitrov
a typically tempestuous Federer, but went on to re- was broken while serving
performance, who left No. gain the No. 1 ranking and for the match.
3-ranked Dimitrov with this win the French and U.S. Kyrgios was called for a
message: “Believe.” Open titles before bringing foot fault, double-faulted
Dimitrov has never won a his season to a premature on a set point and smashed
major, coming closest here end because of an injured an easy overhead into the
last year before losing a right knee. net on a break point after
semifinal to Rafael Nadal Despite not playing any dominating the rally.
in five sets, but is enhanc- competitive matches in his He had 36 aces, and some
ing his credentials as a next Aussie Open preparation, second serves recorded
generation champion. Nadal advanced through at faster than 202 kph (125
Nadal secured his spot in a three rounds without drop- mph).
10th Australian Open quar- ping a set. “Only a couple points in it,
terfinal earlier Sunday on That streak finished when you know. It wasn’t like I got
Rod Laver Arena, beating Schwartzman took the sec- demolished out there,” said Spain’s Rafael Nadal makes a backhand return to Argentina’s
Diego Schwartzman 6-3, ond set, rebounding three Kyrgios, who missed the Diego Schwartzman during their fourth round match at the
6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 in 3 hours times after dropping serve chance to end the drought Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia
and 51 minutes. to break back and win the for local men that dates Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. Associated Press
The 16-time major winner tiebreaker. back to the 1976 Australian
draped an arm around his Nadal lifted to win the third, Open. his game. from a set and 4-1 down
Argentine friend and pat- but Schwartzman didn’t re- “I had a lot of chances to Caroline Wozniacki contin- to beat No. 32 Anett Kon-
ted him on top of the head. lent. win the match and I just ued to cash in on her sec- taveit 4-6, 6-4, 8-6.
If he needed a fitness test in The second game of the came up short.” ond chance, reaching the The other quarterfinal will
the first week in his come- fourth set lasted almost 13 He tipped his mate Dimitrov quarterfinals here for the feature the winners of two
back from an injured right minutes, with Nadal finally to go far. first time since 2012 with a tune-up events. Brisbane
knee, he got it. holding after saving five “He hasn’t even found his 6-3, 6-0 win over Magda- International champion Eli-
“A great battle ... he’s break points. best form yet and he’s still lena Rybarikova. na Svitolina beat Denisa Al-
a good friend of mine,” He broke again in the next getting through all those After saving match points lertova 6-3, 6-0 in a match
Nadal said. “This is the first game to regain control. matches, which is pretty and coming back from that started just before mid-
big match that I played in “It was a good test for me. It frightening,” Kyrgios said. 5-1 down in the third set of night.
2018. That’s confidence for was a lot of hours on court. “Once he finds his feet and her second-round win, No. Fourth-seeded Svitolina
myself ... confidence I can Moments under pressure,” he has more confidence, 2-ranked Wozniacki said next plays Hobart Interna-
resist for four hours on court Nadal said. he’s got a real chance at she was “playing with the tional winner Elise Mertens,
at a good intensity.” Britain’s Kyle Edmund winning it.” house money” and had who beat Petra Martic to
Nadal will next play 2014 reached his first Grand Dimitrov thanked him for nothing to lose. reach the quarterfinals
U.S. Open champion Marin Slam quarterfinal with a 6-7 the support, and said he’s Wozniacki next plays Carla in her Australian Open
Cilic, who collected his (4), 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 afternoon growing more confident in Suarez Navarro, who rallied debut.q