Rafael Nadal crashes out of Australian Open

Top seed Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of the Australian Open by fifth seed Dominic Thiem.

The world no.1 Spaniard suffered a 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 6-7 defeat in their quarter-finals enounter, which lasted four hours and 10 minutes.

Thiem won 78 per cent of first-serve points and struck 65 winners to earn his first Grand Slam victory against Nadal in six attempts.

The 26-year-old Austrian will face seventh Alexander Zverev for a place in the final.