Tennis-Frances Tiafoe v Rafa Nadal

FRANCES TIAFOE

Age: 21

ATP Ranking: 39

Grand Slam titles: 0

2018 Australian Open performance: First round

Best Australian Open performance: Quarter-finals (2019)

Last year, Tiafoe was knocked out in the first round in straight sets by Juan Martin del Potro, but the unseeded youngster has shown immense fighting spirit to battle his way to a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time in his career.

The last American in the draw, Tiafoe stunned fifth seed Kevin Anderson in the second round and then celebrated a memorable 21st birthday by eliminating Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth.

2-RAFA NADAL

Age: 32

ATP Ranking: 2

Grand Slam titles: 17 (Australian Open 2009; French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018; Wimbledon 2008, 2010; U.S. Open 2010, 2013, 2017)

2018 Australian Open performance: Quarter-finals

Best Australian Open performance: Winner (2009)

Nadal has put his injuries behind him to coast through the first four rounds with straight-sets wins over all his opponents, including a 6-0 6-1 7-6 demolition of the experienced Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.

Nadal has never met Tiafoe before but has studied his young American opponent and said he needed to be wary of the 21-year-old's speed and ability to quickly change direction. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)