Posted January 21, 2018 19:20:21

Photo: Rafael Nadal had to work hard for his four-set win over Argentina's Diego Schwartzman. (AP: Dita Alangkara)

Rafael Nadal has advanced to the Australian Open last eight with a hard-fought four-set win over Argentina's Diego Schwartzman.

In a match that lasted just under four hours, world-number-one Nadal powered home against a determined Schwartzman, ultimately triumphing 6-3, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 6-3.

Nadal will meet big-serving Croat Marin Cilic, who reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time in eight years after a come-from-behind, four-set win over Spanish 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta.

Photo: Croatia's Marin Cilic celebrates after defeating Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in their fourth round clash. (AP: Andy Brownbill)

The sixth-seeded 2014 US Open champion — who made it all the way to the semis at Melbourne Park back in 2010 — lent on his monster serving and forehand to battle to a 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (7-3) victory.

Cilic racked up his 100th grand slam match win on Sunday, but it's a second major title that he's really hunting.

More to come.

ABC/AAP

Topics: tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia