Spain’s Nicolas Almagro earned a rocket ride into the Australian Open men’s quarter-finals when fourth-round rival Janko Tipsarevic retired hurt in their match on Sunday.

Almagro was leading 6-2 5-1, with Tipsarevic struggling with what appeared a foot injury from late in the first set.

The Serbian called a medical time-out when down 5-2 in the first and returned to the court with his ankle and foot heavily strapped and padding on his heel.

But the eighth seed was unable to finish the second set, calling it quits just past the one hour mark.

Tipsarevic had been involved in an epic five-setter in the previous round before prevailing over France’s Julien Benneteau and that may have contributed to his injury.

Tenth seed Almagro will now play countryman David Ferrer in the quarter-finals after the fourth seed earlier cruised to victory over 16th seed Kei Nishikori on Rod Laver Arena 6-2 6-1 6-4.

Ferrer’s magnificent chasing and defensive play was a feature of the two hour, 10 minute encounter.

A tough first service game was as hard as it got for the Spaniard early, as he broke Asia’s highest ranked player to go up 3-1 in the first set and closed it out with relative ease.

But what followed in the second set was at times breathtaking as Ferrer steamed to a 5-0 lead, with the Japanese player allowed no chance to find any rhythm.

As if to put an exclamation point on his dominance, Ferrer saved three break points before eventually serving out the set.

Nishikori, who appeared to be hampered by a knee problem late in the match, battled hard in the third set.

The pair traded breaks of serve throughout – the decisive one coming in the ninth game on Nishikori as Ferrer grabbed a 5-4 advantage, before he comfortably served out the match.

Ferrer was pleased with his performance.

“I played really good the first two sets – I didn’t have any mistakes,” Ferrer told the Rod Laver Arena crowd post-match.

“So now I am in the quarter-final of the Australian Open. I am very satisfied.”

Barely mentioned as the Melbourne Park focus has been squarely on the men’s big three of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer, Ferrer remains on track for a semi-final clash with top seed Djokovic should the pair keep winning.