Rafael Nadal rolls on at US Open, Dominic Thiem up next for defending champ

Rafael Nadal was given some food for thought by Nikoloz Basilashvili in the last 16 at the US Open, but he ultimately had too much in his locker for the Georgian.
The defending champion raced into a two-set lead, but his unseeded opponent hit back to win the third set before Nadal wrapped it up 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 in three hours and 22 minutes.
Vaaaaaaamos!@RafaelNadal survives a physical battle against Basilashvili 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 to reach the QF!
Next up: Thiem.#USOpen pic.twitter.com/zkJaSnKk5p
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2018
The Spaniard looked like he would steamroll Basilashvili, but the Georgian showed he was ready to play in the third set when he broke in game three. The advantage was short-lived as the Spaniard reclaimed the break in the next game.
Basilashvili, though, did get another opportunity in the tie-breaker and this time he made it stick to take it to a four sets.
The fourth set had barely started and Nadal was back in the ascendancy with a break in game one, but Basilashvili refused to go down without a fight as he broke back in game six only for the 17-time Grand Slam winner to hit back immediately.
And this time he made it stick.
Nadal will face Dominic Thiem for a place in semi-final after the Austrian brushed aside last year’s runner-up Kevin Anderson to reach the last four at Flushing Meadows for the first time.
The ninth-seeded Thiem, who lost this year’s French Open final against Nadal, produced a clinical display to beat the South African 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).
Thiem broke once in the first set, twice in the second and then ran away with proceedings in the third-set tie-breaker.
“I’m happy that I made it, and it was an amazing victory over one of the best players right now,” he said. “Also first time quarter-finals outside Paris, but most of all, I’m happy with the performance.”
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
Tennis News
Ashleigh Barty happy to ‘knuckle down’ and get back into routine ahead of Australian Open
Ashleigh Barty ready for her big comeback.
-
Australian Open
2021 Australian Open prize money breakdown: Smaller cheques for winners, boost for first-round losers
A look at the 2021 Australian Open prize money.
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios ‘very misunderstood’, but he will ‘always have your back’, says fellow Australian
“We’re almost brothers – pretty close.”
-
Tennis News
Changes made to ATP and WTA schedules to aid those affected by quarantine
Players will also be given priority for gyms and ice baths.
-
Australian Open
Boris Becker on what happens next for Alexander Zverev after a turbulent 2020
Boris Becker is backing Alexander Zverev to win his first Grand Slam in 2021.
-
Australian Open
Dominic Thiem dismisses calls for the Australian Open to be cancelled
Dominic Thiem insists Australian Open should go ahead.
-
Tennis News
Timeline of Andy Murray’s injury nightmare as he pulls out of Australian Open
A timeline of Andy Murray’s injury woes since 2017.
-
News
Andy Murray ‘gutted’ as he shelves plans to play at Australian Open
Murray has been unable to solve a quarantine conundrum.
-
ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal learn their fate in ATP Cup draw
Serbia will begin defence of ATP Cup against Germany and Canada.
-
Australian Open
‘Really unjustified’ – Boris Becker leaps to Novak Djokovic’s defence over his quarantine pleas
Boris Becker believes Novak Djokovic criticism unfair.