Spanish bull Rafael Nadal has foiled a comeback by sixth-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils to book an Australian Open quarter-final berth.
Seeded ninth, Nadal looked in full control when up two sets to love before Monfils launched a comeback which fell short 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
Nadal next faces third-seeded Canadian Milos Raonic.
It will be the 30-year-old's ninth appearance in the final eight at Melbourne Park, having won the title in 2009.
It is also the former world number one's first grand slam quarter-final showing since 2015.
Nadal took advantage early of Monfils' inconsistent play, but Monfils showed there was more to his game than flamboyance as he made the veteran earn the win.
In the fourth set, Monfils broke Nadal and then consolidated to take a 4-2 lead.
However, the Spaniard showed his grit to fire a backhand winner and break back.
In a run of eight points, Nadal wrested back control of the match with an error by Monfils sealing the win on the second match point.
"I'm very happy to be in the quarter finals in a grand slam again," said Nadal, who made a first round exit from Melbourne Park last year.
"Especially here in Australia where I feel at home."
Australia's hopes of a local win in the tournament, meanwhile, have been dashed, with Daria Gavrilova the last singles competitor to be knocked out.
Venus Williams will face Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and the USA's unseeded Coco Vandeweghe is up against Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza in the women's quarter finals.
Playing the second men's singles quarter final will be Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka and Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
AAP