Murray, Nadal move into quarter-finals
Brit sees off Dimitrov’s challenge in four sets at the Australian Open while Nadal beats South African Anderson.
Andy Murray avenged his shock loss at last year’s Wimbledon and battled his way into his 16th successive grand slam quarter-final with a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open.
The 27-year-old Scot was upset by Dimitrov in the quarter-finals in his title defence last year at Wimbledon and Sunday’s victory helped dim those memories and set up a last-eight clash with Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios.
Earlier, Rafa Nadal withstood a serving barrage from South African beanpole Kevin Anderson in a 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 masterclass at Rod Laver Arena to continue his brilliant comeback from a 2014 season ravaged by injury and illness.
The Spaniard, who ruled himself out of contention before the tournament, now faces Tomas Berdych for a place in the semi-finals, a man he has mastered in their last 18 matches.
The Czech seventh-seed, whose record of pain against Nadal dates back to 2007, overpowered local hope Bernard Tomic 6-2, 7-6, 6-2.
Results:
6-Andy Murray (Britain) beat 10-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 7-5
Nick Kyrgios (Australia) beat Andreas Seppi (Italy) 5-7 4-6 6-3 7-6(5) 8-6
3-Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat 14-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 7-5 6-1 6-4
7-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Bernard Tomic (Australia) 6-2 7-6(3) 6-2