Tennis news - Nadal breezes to fourth round with straight-sets victory over De Minaur

Despite not having played competitiively since last year's US Open, owing to an ankle injury, the second seed has been on fine form in Melbourne, following surgery.

Friday saw Nadal take his third straight-sets victory of the tournament, meaning he has yet to drop a set.

Nadal broke in the fourth game of the first set, after which De Minaur went on to take only four points as Nadal won 6-1.

In the second set, Nadal De Minaur defended four break points successfully before the Spaniard finally broke his first service game. De Mianur went on to lose his second service game as well, to consolidate Nadal's advantage, and he finished the set 6-2.

De Minaur again suffered an early break in the first game of the third set, but went on to hold his own, but could not make up the dropped serve with Nadal taking the last set 6-4.

Nadal will face Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.