Rafael Nadal through to Australian Open quarterfinals

Posted January 24, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Rafael Nadal stayed in contention for his second Australian Open title six years after his first with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 fourth-round win Sunday over Kevin Anderson.

The 2009 Australian Open winner turned around the first set - and ultimately the match - in the 11th and 12th games.

Nadal saved five break points, clinching the game with an ace and service winner to go ahead 6-5. In the next, he broke Anderson's serve, clinching the set when the South African hit a volley awkwardly into the net.

The two-game turnaround appeared to deflate the 2.03 meter (6-foot, 8 inch) Anderson, who won only five more games in the match.

The third-seeded Nadal, who lost last year's final to Stan Wawrinka, will play No. 7 Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals.

Rafael Nadal of Spain casts a shadow on the court as he plays his fourth round match against Kevin Anderson of South Africa at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) The Associated Press

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