Rafael Nadal

The ninth-seeded Nadal joined Roger Federer in the last four, keeping alive the prospect of a dream final between the two great rivals who have claimed 31 major titles between them.

Having not reached a major semi-final since his 2014 French Open title, the 30-year-old Nadal produced a match from his halcyon days to fell the third-seeded Canadian in two hours and 44 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

"It might be, as far as history goes, the biggest match ever in Australian Open history — and maybe grand slam history," the former world number one said as the two tennis titans continued their march through the Melbourne Park draw.

"What's at stake there is beyond what pretty much what any player can comprehend.

"You could walk off that court with (numbers) one and two all-time on the grand slams list."I'd like to see it."

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.

Nadal had not played since October due to a wrist injury but he eased past his Czech opponent in an hour and 16 minutes to overcome the world No 10 for the 20th time in his career.

Berdych was swept aside in the opening set but improved in the second, which went with serve until the ninth game when Nadal broke to lead 5-4 before closing out the match.

Victory sets up a semi-final clash against Milos Raonic in the exhibition event.

Belgium's David Goffin is also through to the last-four in the UAE after he saw off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.

The Spaniard had been due to compete in next week's Swiss Indoors Basel, where he was beaten by Roger Federer in last year's final, and the season-ending World Tour Finals in November.

Nadal has been suffering problems with his left wrist since May when he pulled out of the French Open in the first week. He then tried to accelerate his recovery in an attempt to be fit in time for Rio 2016, where he won a gold medal with Marc Lopez in the doubles.

However, another complication in the same wrist has now forced him to focus on being fit for the start of 2017.

Rafael Nadal's wrist troubles appeared to resurface as he suffered a 6-1 6-3 thumping at the hands of Borna Coric in the third round of the Western and Southern Open.

The world number five eased past Pablo Cuevas in the second round, but was comfortably beaten by 19-year-old Coric on Thursday.

Rafael Nadal continued his solid form with a straight-sets win over Pablo Cuevas in the Western and Southern Open second round.

The Spaniard, who lost the bronze-medal match at the Olympics on his return from a wrist injury, gained a measure of revenge over Cuevas with a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) victory.

With third-round action in full swing out on the Roland Garros claycourts, Nadal dropped a bombshell midway though a sunny afternoon when he announced he was withdrawing because of an injury to his left wrist.

For one of the game's fiercest fighters, it was a lame way to go - especially after he had dropped only nine games in reaching the third round where he had been due to play compatriot Marcel Granollers on Saturday.