Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage from the first of today's men's quarter-finals at the Australian Open, between world number one Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov, who appears to be finally making good on his early promise.

GAME, SET AND MATCH - NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 6-2 DIMITROV - The first chance goes begging for Nadal as he nets a forehand while Dimitrov saves a second match point with a blistering inside out forehand winner across court. A third chance is squandered by Nadal as he slaps a forehand long but finally the Spaniard does get it done at the fourth attempt when Dimitrov goes wide across court with another forehand.

NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 5-2 40-30 DIMITROV - A missed forehand from Dimitrov, followed by a great forehand passing shot winner across court from Nadal and it's 0-30 to the Spaniard. Dimitrov gets an incredible peice of luck on a net cord, his inside out forehand definitely going out until it hits the top of the net. But it's a short lived breather as Nadal finds another passing shot winner to bring up a first match point ...

NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 5-2 DIMITROV - Nadal eases through another service hold to leave himself potentially just one game away from the quarter-finals. Dimitrov just misses a forehand long of the baseline to concede the game and although he challenges, he's walking to the chair as he does so. It's actually pretty close but the ball did miss and Dimitrov will have to serve to keep the match alive after the change of ends.

NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 4-2 DIMITROV - Dimitrov does well to hold from 15-30 down, flicking down a backhand smash winner to bring up game point before going on to hold when the Spaniard fails to land his backhand return.

NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(3) 4-1 DIMITROV - Nadal squanders a game point with his seventh double fault of the match (that's six more than in the entire match against Nishikori). But it's only a temporary blip this time as Dimitrov stumbles twice in the next point before sending a forehand long to help the Spaniard hold.

NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 3-1 DIMITROV - A super cheeky forehand drop shot from Dimitrov, that even gets a nod of approval from Nadal is was so well disguised, brings up two game points for the Bulgarian. The first goes begging on a forehand error but Dimitrov does hold when Nadal pulls his forehand return wide across court.

NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 3-0 DIMITROV - A clever serve out wide from Nadal is returned long off the backhand wing by Dimitrov, helping Nadal to two game points to consolidate the break. And sure enough that's exactly what he does as Dimitrov slaps a tired-looking forehand into the middle of the net.

BREAK - NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 2-0 DIMITROV - Nadal earns himself a break point with a phenomenal running forehand passing shot winner on the angle but Dimitrov gets out of trouble with a forehand winner. Another couple of game points go begging for the Bulgarian and Nadal gets another chance to beg, this time thumping a backhand passing shot down the line for a winner. That should could not have been much better and has Nadal finally broken the Bulgarian's resistance now?

NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 1-0 DIMITROV - Nadal holds for the opening game of the fourth set, crouching down, Agnieszka Radwanska-style to a low forehand and dinking the ball over the net for a drop shot across court.

During the change of ends, Nadal is getting some more treatment to that nasty looking blister on his left hand which has been heavily strapped since the beginning of the match.

SET - NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) DIMITROV - Dimitrov almost produces the perfect lob to earn himself another set point but his ball drifts just long (confirmed by a hawkeye challenge) and instead it's set point Nadal. And, ouch. Dimitrov goes for way too much on a cross court forehand and hits into the tramlines to hand Nadal the third set.

TIE-BREAK - NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 6-6 (7-7) DIMITROV - Dimitrov misses his forehand across court as well to squander the chance to wrap up the set. He gets a second chance with a high forehand volley winner but Nadal knows exactly what he's going to do to save it, pushing Dimitrov back deep behind the baseline before playing the short backhand volley winner.

TIE-BREAK - NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 6-6 (5-6) DIMITROV - Dimitrov takes three points in a row, including two against the Nadal serve, and is handed another set point when the Spaniard pulls his inside out forehand wide across court...

TIE-BREAK - NADAL 3-6 7-6(3) 6-6 (4-2) DIMITROV - Incredible point from both players as Dimitrov races up the court for a drop shot, only to be lobbed by Nadal. Not only does the Bulgarian get back to it, he very nearly comes up with the hot-dog lob winner, but Nadal just gets the smash back in play before going on to find a backhand winner. He leads by the mini-break at the change of ends.