Tennis: Red hot Rafa cruises into quarters

Rafael Nadal cruised to victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic. Photo / Getty Images

The 'Rafa Slam' is still alive after Rafael Nadal beat Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 at the Australian Open last night to maintain his chance of owning all four Grand Slam trophies at once.

That's a feat which hasn't been achieved since Rod Laver won four majors in 1969.

Playing on Melbourne Park's centrecourt that is named after the Australian legend, Nadal advanced to a quarter-final against fellow Spaniard David Ferrer as he attempts to add to the Grand Slam titles he won last year at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Nadal hasn't dropped a set through four rounds at Melbourne Park, despite carrying the effects of a virus he picked up two weeks ago in Qatar.

"Before the match I was a little bit nervous," Nadal said. "I know aggressive he can play. I think I've played my best match at the Australian Open."

A capacity crowd of 15,000 that included American country music star Kenny Rogers - sitting next to seven-time Grand Slam singles winner Evonne Goolagong Cawley of Australia - saw Nadal struggle at times on his serve.

The fourth game went to deuce four times, but Nadal finally prevailed on his service with a forehand smash at the net, followed shortly by his patented "Vamos" as he walked to the back of the court.

In the next game, he set up one of four break points with an amazing get of a Cilic drop shot at the net, sending it across the court to the side line for a winner.

He converted for 4-1 and, after serving a double fault on his first set point, Nadal took the opening set when Cilic netted a backhand.

Nadal went ahead 4-3 on a service break in the second set, then clinched it when Cilic, who beat American John Isner in five tough sets on Saturday, hit a forehand long.

He advanced when Cilic double-faulted on match point.

Smarting Serb Novak Djokovic will be seeking more than a berth in the semifinals when he takes on Czech powerhouse Tomas Berdych today.

Peeved at being fined for coaching during his fourth-round trouncing of Nicolas Almagro, Djokovic is also eyeing some revenge after Berdych denied the 2008 Open champion a place in last year's Wimbledon final.

Berdych upset Djokovic 6-3 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 at the All England Club for his only victory over the world No 3 in five career meetings.

Wary of the challenges to come, Djokovic said he was intent on turning up the heat against Almagro - and he did just that, breezing past the Spaniard in less than two hours.

"Berdych loves playing on hard courts, big hitter. The match against Almagro was good," Djokovic said. "It's important to raise a level of performance before the quarter-finals.

"The matches are going to become more and more difficult, the opponents are higher ranked and the matches are tough and unpredictable. "

The reward for for the winner is a likely semifinal showdown with defending champion Roger Federer, or possibly the Swiss superstar's countryman Stanislas Wawrinka.

- AAP