Defending champion Rafael Nadal’s progress into the US Open quarter-finals was far from smooth as he needed four sets to beat unseeded Georgian Nikoloz Basilash-vili.

The 32-year-old Spaniard led by two sets before Basilash-vili, ranked 37th in the world, recovered to take a third-set tie-break.

He faces ninth seed Dominic Thiem next.
Nadal has reached at least the quarter-finals in all four Grand Slams this year – the first time he has achieved the feat since 2011.

Meanwhile, six-time winner Serena Williams reached the US Open quarter-finals with a 6-0 4-6 6-3 victory over Kaia Kanepi.