AO: Nadal reaches last-16

Melbourne, Jan 21 (Agency) Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal sailed into the fourth round of the Australian Open after beating Russia’s Karen Khachanov on Friday. Nadal defeated the Russian 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the round three encounter that lasted for 2 hours and 50 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena. “For me, night like today means everything. That’s a lot of energy in my pocket to keep going, keep fighting every single day.

And all day for that. I put…well we put together me and my team, my family to have to try to be back where I am,” said Nadal at the on-court interview. The 35-year-old Spaniard will next face either Aslan Karatsev of Russia or Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.