Nick Kyrgios has enjoyed his biggest win in two years, saving three match points to down world No.2
Rafael Nadal at the
Mexican Open.
In a match of the highest quality, the Australian triumphed 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (8-6) in three hours and three minutes.
He joins fellow Australians Alex de Minaur and John Millman in the quarter- finals at Acapulco.
Criticised for a perceived lack of effort in some matches this year, Kyrgios stayed focused after giving up the opening set.
He saved nine break points throughout the match including coming back from 0-40 positions in the final two sets.
Nadal, who wasn't broken in the match, looked set to triumph when up 6-3 in the deciding tiebreaker.
But Kyrgios saved three match points, including one with a lunging volley that hit the net cord and just landed in.
He'll take on arch-rival Stan Wawrinka for a spot in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Millman moved through to he last eight with an emphatic straight-sets victory over German Peter Gojowczyk.
Millman blitzed the world No.87, 6-0 6-2, at one stage winning eight games in succession.
The world No.44 converted six break points and delivered the contest's only two aces to set up a quarter-final clash with third-seed John Isner.
Big-serving American Isner eliminated compatriot Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4.
Millman's win was his second comfortable triumph - the eighth seed beat Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-4 in the opening round.
Fifth seed Alex de Minaur boosted Australia's presence in the quarter-finals when Feliciano Lopez (Spain) withdrew before their second round match.
Wawrinka also beat seventh-seeded American Steve Johnson 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to progress to the last eight.