Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Italy's Fabio Fognini in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Feb 15, 2021. (ANDY BROWNBILL / AP)

MELBOURNE - Rafael Nadal threw a blanket over the fire of Fabio Fognini to cruise into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-4 6-2 win on Monday.

Facing the man who dumped him from the 2015 US Open, second seed Nadal held steady against the fierce hitting of the flamboyant Italian and counter-punched brilliantly to avoid a longer scrap at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena.

The score suggested otherwise, but it was a quality two-hour 16-minute workout for Nadal, who had to rally from 4-2 down in the second set to put the match on his terms.

From there, the momentum was all the Spaniard’s as Nadal roared through the final set to fix up a clash with either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Matteo Berrettini.

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Russia's Daniil Medvedev hits a backhand to Mackenzie McDonald of the United States during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Feb 15, 2021. (HAMISH BLAIR / AP)

Medvedev sets up all-Russian Rublev clash

Meanwhile, Russian Daniil Medvedev firmed as an Australian Open title contender when he brushed aside Mackenzie McDonald 6-4 6-2 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time and extend his winning streak to 18 matches.

Medvedev will play compatriot Andrey Rublev for a spot in his third Grand Slam semi-final after the seventh seed was gifted a place in the last eight, also for the first time, when Casper Ruud retired injured.

“At least one of us will be in semis, that’s good news,” said Rublev, who was leading 6-2 7-6(3) when Ruud called it quits.

Fourth seed Medvedev won his first career five-set match in the third round but there was no need for a prolonged spell in the sun on Monday as he saw off McDonald in less than 90 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.

Russia's Andrey Rublev hits a forehand to Norway's Casper Ruud during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Feb 15, 2021. (HAMISH BLAIR / AP)

Rublev spent only 80 minutes on court in the clash of two former junior world number ones because of Ruud’s retirement, which came after the Norwegian lost the second set tiebreak.

Qualifier Aslan Karatsev could make it two Russians in the last four if he beats Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

US' Pegula continues dream run

Over at the women's side, Jessica Pegula continued her dream run at the Australian Open on Monday with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over fifth seed Elina Svitolina to set up an all-American quarter-final against Jennifer Brady, who beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic in straight sets.

Pegula struggled badly in the second set at Rod Laver Arena but regrouped in the decider, breaking former Wimbledon and US Open semi-finalist Svitolina in the fourth game before locking down her first win over a top 10 opponent.

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Jessica Pegula of the United States celebrates after defeating Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Feb 15, 2021. (ANDY BROWNBILL / AP)

Matching Svitolina’s power off the baseline, Pegula rushed the net to knock her opponent off her stride and sealed the win on the first match point when the Ukrainian netted a return.

Pegula, who considered giving up tennis after being sidelined for long spells due to knee and hip injuries earlier in her career, will play her good friend Brady for a place in the semis after the 25-year-old beat Vekic 6-1 7-5, who was hampered by an injury to her right leg.