Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, had set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash against world number one Australian Ash Barty after defeating fellow American Danielle Collins 6-2 4-6 (10-6) on Margaret Court Arena.
Browsing: Margaret Court Arena
Showing great mobility, the towering Czech neutralised the potentially tricky world number 25 in a sometimes tetchy two-hour contest on Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on Monday.
After holding serve to lead 2-1 in the second set, the 14th seed took a medical time-out at the Margaret Court Arena as a trainer worked feverishly on his lower back.
Melbourne’s heat wave had relented by the time the 31-year-old Nadal walked on Margaret Court Arena, but the Spaniard was on fire as he battered the 28th seed into submission.