Australian Open: Rafael Nadal Set Up Match Against Thiem Dominic After Thrilling Win Over Nick Kyrgios

Rafael Nadal had advanced to the quarter-finals of the tour in Melbourne but that did come with a huge challenge from Nick Kyrgios who held him through four sets and two tiebreaks before dropping out of the competition.

Nadal had played through three previous rounds without dropping a set until the second set of the fourth round when Kyrgios forced him a lose a set en route the victory, 6-3 3-6 7-6(6) 7-6(4). Nevertheless, the 24-year-old served a massive 25 aces and saved seven breakpoint advantages faced against the world number one.

"I'm just taking it day by day, trying to bring positive vibes," Kyrgios said afterward. "I feel like I've made progress as a human. A tennis player, I don't really care about as much."

They both went head-to-head in a much thrilling third set with the Australian forcing a tiebreak by saving a breakpoint at 6-5 on Nadal netting a forehand shot.

Nick Kyrgios smashed his racket in the third round tiebreak 

While Nadal was well composed, Kygrios could not hold back his emotion and smashed his racket when the Spaniard took an early break 3-1 before wrapping it up claiming two set points after a six apiece. The fourth set saw an incredible rally from the Kyrgios to take the lead 5-6 but was forced into a tiebreak and lost to the Spaniard.

Nadal admitted that he had a really tough one against Kyrgios whom he said does not really give much chance to his opponent to control the game over and it was hard for him to win a break against him.

He added, "When he plays like today with a positive attitude, he gives a lot to the sport. He's one of the best talents on Tour and I like the Nick Kyrgios of this tournament."

The 33-year-old will play Austrian veteran Dominic Thiem in the Last 16. Thiem defeated French player Gael Monfils in a three-setter, 6-2 6-4 6-4.