Summary

  • Rafael Nadal wins in straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-2 to reach semi-finals

  • Second seed plays Stefanos Tsitsipas next, who beat Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets

  • Petra Kvitova beat home favourite Ashleigh Barty 6-1 6-4 - plays Danielle Collins next

  1. Postpublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Simon Briggs
    Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    The journalists like to get together for a hit in the mornings. Stuart Fraser of The Times is a good player. I think he used to play in the junior ranks in Scotland.

  2. Postpublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 2-3 Nadal*

    Tiafoe hoicks his forehand into the net - that's his 32nd unforced error - for 30-30.

    That's brilliant though, Tiafoe going one way with the serve and cracking a winner the other, before Nadal hits a return over the tramlines.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    #bbctennis

    Emma Goodwin: I’m in work listening to the Rafa match and I keep jumping up from my desk and I’m getting some funny stares. Vamos Rafa.

  4. Postpublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 1-3 Nadal

    Feels slightly strange, watching the sweat pouring off Rafa in the Australia heat while outside of the window next to me it is full on snowing.

    Ooft. Nadal hits the absolute backside off a forehand that rips through Tiafoe's defences and a drive down the line tidies up the hold.

  5. Postpublished at 11:37 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 1-2 Nadal*

    A love hold for Tiafoe. Convincing. But it means nothing without a break of serve...

    Frances TiafoeImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 11:36 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 0-2 Nadal

    A backhand winner gets Tiafoe up and running in his latest service game. It's getting to the now or never stage. An ace backs it up nicely. 30-0.

  7. Postpublished at 11:35 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 0-2 Nadal

    And, naturally, Rafael Nadal whizzes through his service game.

    Or does he? 40-0 becomes 40-30 thanks to a loose backhand, but a huge first serve consolidates Nadal's break.

    That second Australian Open title is looking good.

  8. Postpublished at 11:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Russell Fuller
    BBC tennis correspondent at Melbourne Park

    This is like boot camp for Tiafoe.

  9. Nadal breakspublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 0-1 Nadal*

    Frances Tiafoe drags his backhand into the net!

    As it has in the past two sets, Rafael Nadal gets the early break.

    Rafael NadalImage source, Getty Images
  10. Postpublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 0-0 Nadal

    Good serve out wide from Tiafoe, and Nadal whooshes a forehand out.

    30-40.

  11. Postpublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 0-0 Nadal

    Tiafoe has been broken in his first service game of both sets so far.

    And Rafa's going to have another crack at it as he brings up two break points with an outrageous drop shot.

  12. Postpublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 0-0 Nadal

    Frances Tiafoe will serve to begin the third set.

  13. Postpublished at 11:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 Nadal

    Rafa Nadal's serving has been so strong tonight.

    He's won 33 of 39 points on his first serve and 11 from 17 on his second serve. That's backed up with seven aces and 20 winners.

  14. Game and second set - Nadalpublished at 11:25 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-6 Nadal

    Rafael Nadal is a set away from the Australian Open semi-finals.

    Rafael NadalImage source, Getty Images
  15. Postpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-5 Nadal*

    Tiafoe goes to challenge the whip down the line...

    ...and then he cancels it, which causes the crowd and the umpire to burst out laughing.

  16. Postpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-5 Nadal*

    A few errors from Tiafoe, although he does well to get racquet on a Nadal thunderbolt down the line, and another delicious whip brings up three set points.

  17. Postpublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-5 Nadal*

    Rafa Nadal will serve for the set.

    Once the ball kids have removed a feather from the court, that is.

  18. Postpublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Gigi Salmon
    Radio 5 live sports extra tennis commentator at Melbourne Park

    When Rafa is in this kind of form, it's suffocating. With most other players, there will be a dip. That is rarely the case with Nadal.

  19. Tiafoe holdspublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    Tiafoe 3-6 4-5 Nadal*

    A battle of the slice backhands, and it's Tiafoe who wins as Nadal floats the ball over the tramlines.

    Ace! Tiafoe holds. Nadal's going to have to serve it out again.

    Rafael NadalImage source, Getty Images
  20. Tiafoe saves set point againpublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2019

    *Tiafoe 3-6 3-5 Nadal

    "Come on!" says Tiafoe as he gets a first serve into Nadal's body, and the second seed can only bunt a return long.