No.13 seed Milos Raonic has upset former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka to set up a quarter-final meeting with crowd-pleasing Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Raonic stormed to a two-set lead before the fourth-seeded Swiss fought back to level at two-all, only for the Canadian to claim the only service break of the fifth set in the sixth game to post a 6-4 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-3 win.
“What it always comes down to for me is trying to play in your rhythm, dictate and control the centre of the court – I felt like I was able to carry that through,” Raonic said.
“This was my first victory on Rod Laver Arena so that’s a nice plus.”
Earlier on Monday, No.23 seed Monfils advanced to the quarter-final stage at Melbourne Park for the first time in 11 attempts with a win over unseeded Russian Andrey Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov took the second set on Margaret Court Arena and forced a tiebreak in the fourth before Monfils prevailed 7-5 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
“I focused great on my serve and I needed it because he was striking the ball really good,” Monfils said.
“I had a lot of free points to help me get through.
“It’s great, I’m very happy, but to be honest I’m already focused on my quarter-final.
“I’ve had a good week and I hope I have a wonderful second week.”
Monfils received treatment on court for a hand injury after he threw himself headlong through the air in a desperate attempt to make a shot.
“It’s very painful – I cannot even grip anything right now,” he said.
“I have a deep cut. That’s nothing, but I have a bruise. I’m lucky to not have fracture.”
The Frenchman expects to be fully fit for Wednesday’s clash with Raonic.