• Australian Open, Day Eight

Nadal rolls into quarters as Soderling is dumped out

Alexandr Dolgopolov will provide a serious test for Andy Murray © Getty Images

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Murray gives Melzer no quarters
Zvonareva ousts Benesova - again

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal remains on course for the 'Rafa Slam' after cruising into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Marin Cilic.

The Spaniard, who is bidding to become the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four grand slam titles, is one of only three players yet to drop a set in Melbourne after a comfortable 6-2 6-4 6-3 victory.

Although Cilic hit more winners; 32 to Nadal's 26, it was a clinical performance from the top seed, who won 79 per cent of points on his first serve. Nadal burst out of the blocks, and grabbed an early break, to which Cilic had no response.

Nadal's aggressive tactics were relentless, as he tore through the 2010 semi-finalist in two hours and 31 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash with fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.

No. 4 seed Robin Soderling became the first of the genuine tournament contenders to exit the Australian Open on Monday as young gun Alexandr Dolgopolov completed the upset of the men's draw to date.

Soderling's Melbourne curse continued as he once again failed at a tournament where his previous best result was his second round appearances in 2004 and 2009. Following his stunning form of 2010, however, he was rated as one of the men most likely to challenge the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer duopoly this year.

Dolgopolov, the 22-year-old from Ukraine, announced his arrival as a potential heavyweight of the future with a 1-6 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-2 victory. Soderling raced through the first set, but a combination of a stunning drop in form from the Swede - who seemed to lose all rhythm on serve in particular - and some surprisingly potent hitting from the underdog saw Dolgopolov take control.

Even as Soderling regained some momentum in the fourth set, moving ahead 4-0, the young upstart refused to concede easily, pushing the world No. 4 all the way. Soderling won the set but that mini-fightback turned the match once more and Dolgopolov finished him off comfortably in the end.

The world No. 46 will now meet Britain's Andy Murray, after the fifth seed eased into the last eight with a straight-sets win over Jurgen Melzer.

Ferrer reached the quarter-finals for the second time in his career after ending Canadian Milos Raonic's dream run in Melbourne. The world No. 152, who came through three qualifying rounds before seeing off Michael Llodra and tenth seed Mikhail Youzhny, took an early lead, but was eventually outclassed 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.

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