Day eight at the Australian Open

Tennis - Australian Open - Fourth Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 27, 2020 Romania's Simona Halep celebrates winning her match against Belgium's Elise Mertens REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - World number one Rafa Nadal held off a spirited challenge from local favourite Nick Kyrgios to win in four tight sets and advance to the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.

Nadal, bidding for a record-equalling 20th major title, dropped his first set of the tournament but came through 6-3 3-6 7-6(6) 7-6(4) and set up an encounter with fifth seed Dominic Thiem.