Australian Open 2017: Rafael Nadal beats Alexander Zverev in five sets

Posted: Jan 21, 2017

Australian Open 2017
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne Dates: 16-29 Jan
Coverage: Daily live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text on selected matches on the BBC Sport website; TV highlights on BBC Two and online from 21 January.

Former champion Rafael Nadal overcame rising star Alexander Zverev in a gripping contest to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The Spaniard, who won the title in 2009, came through 4-6 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2 in four hours and six minutes.

Zverev, 19, had recovered a break early in the final set before requiring treatment for cramp.

Nadal, 30, goes on to face France’s Gael Monfils or Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the last 16.

Watch highlights of day six on BBC Two from 15:05 GMT on Saturday.

Belgian 11th seed David Goffin impressed with a 6-3 6-2 6-4 win over Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic, setting up a clash with Austrian eighth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Denis Istomin, the qualifier from Uzbekistan who stunned Novak Djokovic in round two, produced another superb effort to beat Spanish 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-2.

Thirteenth seed Roberto Bautista won the all-Spanish battle with 21st seed David Ferrer 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

More to follow.