Nadal sets mark for rivals

Rafael Nadal fired out a warning to his Australian Open rivals by beating Marin Cilic and then declaring himself back to full fitness.

The Spaniard, who is bidding to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four grand slams simultaneously, set up a quarter-final against countryman David Ferrer after seeing off the big-serving Croatian 6-2 6-4 6-3.

Nadal looked out of sorts on Saturday night despite beating Bernard Tomic - sweating profusely as he struggled through – but cut a far more composed figure this evening as he offered Cilic few opportunities to cause a shock.

And he confirmed afterwards he was over the effects of a virus he contracted in the Middle East before coming to Melbourne.

He said: “Today I felt very good. I didn’t sweat like the other days. So that’s fantastic news for me.

“In previous days I was sweating like crazy and I was feeling very tired.

“Today was the first time that I felt perfect physically.

“And even better news is I played much better than previously.

“I was able to play with high intensity, very good rhythm, playing more inside the court.

“The serve worked better today. So, in general, I think it was a very good match for me and very important victory.”

The world number one set the tone by breaking Cilic in the opening game and another break in game five saw him race into a 4-1 lead.

He duly served it out and, while Cilic had his moments in the second set, there was a sense of inevitability when Nadal broke for a 4-3 lead before going on to clinch the set.

The third followed a similar pattern with the top seed breaking again in game seven and he closed it out when Cilic served a double fault on Nadal’s third match point.

“Before the match I was a little bit nervous because he is very dangerous and I tried to play with high intensity,” Nadal said.

“I am very happy because I played my best match of the year at the Australian Open.”

Ferrer ended the run of Canadian qualifier Milos Raonic.

Raonic, who beat seeds Michael Llodra and Mikhail Youzhny in his two previous matches, was no match for the seventh seed, Ferrer winning 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.

Robin Soderling was the surprise casualty on day eight, going down to Alexandr Dolgopolov.

World number four Soderling was beaten more convincingly than the 1-6 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-2 scoreline suggests and had no excuses afterwards as Dolgopolov advanced to a last-eight meeting with Andy Murray, who thrashed Jurgen Melzer for the loss of just five games.

Dolgopolov had never been beyond the third round of a major before, but Swede Soderling was adamant he was not caught out by the quality of the 22-year-old’s game.

He said: “I never underestimate anyone. I just didn’t feel good and didn’t play well enough. Simple as that.

“I struggled throughout the whole match. I won the first set, yeah, but I didn’t win it because I played well. He wasn’t on it at the start.

“Then he started to play much better, which I didn’t.

“He’s a good player. He has a great backhand and moves well. He’s a great counter-puncher and has a good chance to do really well.”

Dolgopolov, whose father was the coach of Andrei Medvedev – a top-five player in the mid-90s – and whose mother was a European gymnastics champion, was delighted to have clinched what he admitted was the best win of his burgeoning career.

“Yes, for sure. I think it’s the first time I have won two five-setters in a row. I feel good physically and really happy to have got the win,” he said.

Murray was equally impressive in his 6-3 6-1 6-1 demolition of Melzer.

The Austrian was expected to provide Murray with his first serious test of the tournament, but he proved no match for the Scot who has yet to drop a set in Melbourne as he bids to land his first grand slam title.

Murray produced a mature, controlled performance, contrasting sharply with that offered by Melzer, the Austrian spraying the ball all over Rod Laver Arena as his all-or-nothing game was exposed.

Afterwards Murray admitted he had been surprised at the ease with which he had won.

He said: Yeah, he had a good year on tour last year, I was surprised but I played a great match.

“I am hitting the ball well right now and have played four good matches so far.”