Rafael Nadal reaches first Grand Slam final eight in almost two years
Melbourne — Rafael Nadal fought back to deny mercurial Frenchman Gael Monfils, in four sets, and reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2015, at the Australian Open on Monday. The 14-time Grand Slam champion defeated sixth-seeded Monfils 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena, in almost three hours, and will play Canada’s world number three Milos Raonic in the quarters. It was a gutsy effort from the never-say-die Spaniard, who was down a service break with a fifth set looming before he broke sixth-seeded Monfils twice to clinch victory. The 2009 champion reached the last eight in Melbourne for the ninth time. He hasn’t contested a Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2015 French Open. "I’m very happy being in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam after a couple of years without being there," he said. "I start the season playing quarterfinals in a Grand Slam again, especially on hard court after a couple of years without being in this round, which is great news." It was Nadal’s first...
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