Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 15, 2021 Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his fourth round match against Italy's Fabio Fognini REUTERS/Loren Elliott
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - For a player who was all doom and gloom about his fitness on the eve of the Australian Open, Rafa Nadal emerged as an unlikely pillar of strength on day eight as injuries cut a swathe through the men's draw on Monday.
Nadal's bid for a record 21st Grand Slam crown gathered pace with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 demolition of Fabio Fognini that pushed the Spaniard into his 13th quarter-final at Melbourne Park.
