Nadal sets up Murray clash

Defending champion Rafael Nadal set up a blockbuster quarter-final against Andy Murray after they both overcame big-serving opponents at the Australian Open.

Fifth seed Murray began the day on Rod Laver Arena and produced a near-flawless display to blunt the booming serve of 6ft 9in American John Isner and win 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-2.

Nadal had a similarly imposing task against Ivo Karlovic, who stands one inch taller than Isner, and while the Spaniard dropped a set he did enough to win 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4.

The six-time grand slam winner has not always looked at his best at Melbourne Park this week and admitted it had been hard to find a flow in a match dominated by Karlovic’s reliance on his serve.

“Today the match is probably one of the most difficult matches to play well because is without rhythm all the time,” Nadal said.

“So the victory is the only thing in this kind of match, and I did that.

“I think I returned aggressive and when I had a chance to get a racquet on the ball I did well.”

Nadal’s win sets up a difficult last-eight clash against Murray, who is yet to drop a set this week.

The Spaniard’s recent record against top-10 players is also not good, having won just once in his past 11.

Despite that Nadal was unconcerned, adding: “The numbers are the numbers, so it is probably not the best form of my career against the top 10.

“But I am happy with the draw. The most important thing is I am in quarter-finals and I have only lost two sets.

“Andy is one of the more difficult players to play against. I will have to play my best tennis.”

Murray admitted he was playing close to his best after he had another routine win.

The 22-year-old did have to fend off a set point in the first, but after taking it in a tie-break it was one-way traffic to send him into the last-eight at the Australian Open for the first time.

“I’m playing well, no question about that,” said Murray, who made just eight unforced errors in over two hours on court.

“I just need to play like I have been and maybe a bit more if I want to win the tournament.

“Today when I was down I hit a lot of winners, served smart, was just thinking the whole time.”

Marin Cilic gained some revenge over fourth seed Juan Martin del Potro as he dumped the US Open champion out in five sets.

Cilic, the 14th seed, lost to Del Potro at this stage last year while the Argentinian also knocked him out en route to his success at Flushing Meadows.

The 21-year-old Croatian fired 71 winners as well as 20 aces to win 5-7 6-4 7-5 5-7 6-3 in four hours and 38 minutes on Hisense Arena.

Cilic will play the winner of tonight’s match between seventh seed Andy Roddick and 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez in the last eight.