Australian Open day eight: Rafael Nadal ‘messes up’ while Jessica Pegula learns from the Buffalo Bills

Rafael Nadal reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open without dropping a set, comfortably seeing off Fabio Fognini.
He next faces Stefanos Tsitsipas, who received a walkover because of Matteo Berrettini’s abdominal injury, while Russian duo Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev will meet for a place in the last four.
Ashleigh Barty’s smooth progress through the draw continued with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Shelby Rogers. American Jessica Pegula produced the upset of the day by knocking out fifth seed Elina Svitolina.
Picture of the day
Stat of the day
3
Nadal digs a hole

Nadal has barely put a foot wrong on court so far but he had an awkward moment in the press conference room when he let slip that Berrettini had pulled out before it was officially announced, then endearingly tried to salvage the situation.
The second seed said: “I made a step forward today, something that I needed, and I need to make another one for Wednesday against Tsitsipas, I think it’s going to be. Is it official? He’ll play tonight? OK. I think I heard that Berrettini was a little bit injured but not official at all. Sorry for that. But, yeah, something – well, I messed it up.”
Sporting connections
LET’S GOOOOO @JLPegula‼️ https://t.co/HcsbYtvkYN
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) February 15, 2021
Pegula comes from a sporting family in the sense her parents, Terry and Kim, own a number of teams, including the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL side the Buffalo Sabres. The 26-year-old spoke about what she has taken from watching the Bills after reaching the last eight.
“It’s definitely something I think I tried to take into my game a little bit, even watching the team getting that grit, that competitive attitude, having that mindset,” she said. “I think it’s been really cool to watch them and kind of channel that energy into how I’ve been doing.”
Fallen seeds
Women: Elina Svitolina (5), Elise Mertens (18), Donna Vekic (28)
Men: Matteo Berrettini (9), Fabio Fognini (16), Casper Rudd (24)
Who’s up next?
Grand slam victory No. 💯❤️
And now the challenge of facing the legend in the quarter-finals 🙌
Looking forward to another battle #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/H1hNNWQjml
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) February 14, 2021
Serena Williams’ clash with Simona Halep is the standout match as the quarter-finals get under way on Tuesday.
Halep will attempt to repeat her victory from the Wimbledon final two years ago. In the other women’s match, title favourite Naomi Osaka takes on first-time quarter-finalist Hsieh Su-wei.
Novak Djokovic faces another test of his injured abdominal muscle when he meets sixth seed Alexander Zverev, with the winner to meet either Grigor Dimitrov or qualifier Aslan Karatsev.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
French Open
French Open 2023: Who is playing on the show courts on Sunday 28 May
Check out who will be in action on the show courts on Sunday 28 May.
-
French Open
WATCH: Arthur Fils becomes youngest titlist of 2023 with Lyon Open triumph
Arthur Fils became the youngest and lowest-ranked champion of the season in Lyon.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz reflects on ‘crazy’ top seeding at French Open
Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed in a Grand Slam for the first time at the age of just 20.
-
French Open
Coco Gauff hopes returning to Paris can help her find her groove
The 19-year-old reached her first grand slam singles final here last year.
-
French Open
Young duo could challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic versus the youth brigade appears to be how the French Open is shaping up.
-
French Open
Iga Swiatek backed to win third French Open in two weeks
John McEnroe believes that it is hard to look past Iga Swiatek as the favourite for the women’s singles title.
-
French Open
Former champion names seven men who could win Roland Garros
Former French Open winner Mats Wilander has picked out seven men who he feels have a shot at Grand Slam glory in Paris.
-
French Open
Taylor Fritz makes Carlos Alcaraz claim in exclusive Tennis365 interview
Top ten player Taylor Fritz opens up on Alcaraz, the GOAT debate, what tennis needs to do to improve and so much more
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal’s French Open clothing is revealed… but he may never wear it
Nike has revealed what Rafael Nadal would have been wearing at the French Open.
-
Tennis News
Emma Raducanu set for fresh rankings blow amid uncertainty over her future
Jodie Burrage could be set to knock Emma Raducanu off her pedestal as the British No 1 over the course of the grass court season.