Nadal ready to rumble

SPAIN’S Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Frances Tiafoe of the United States during their men’s singles quarterfinal match on Day Nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. AFP

MELBOURNE, Australia — Ruthless Rafael Nadal brutally swatted aside a bright young star in the Australian Open quarterfinals before setting his sights on the leading new kid on the block, Stefanos Tsitsipas.

You are in the semifinals of a Grand Slam, you can’t expect an easy opponent

The Spanish second seed continued his relentless progress by slaying giant-killer Frances Tiafoe, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, in just 107 minutes of power-packed, precision tennis.

Nadal, 32, warned the 20-year-old Tsitsipas, who knocked out Roger Federer in the fourth round to be ready as the Spaniard would be at his best in Thursday evening’s semifinal.

“For me it is always the same: you are in the semifinals of a Grand Slam, you can’t expect an easy opponent,” he told reporters.

“Stefanos is one of the best players of the world. To have the chance to be in that final, I need to play my best, and that’s what I am looking for.”

Unseeded Tiafoe, 21, shocked fifth seed Kevin Anderson and Grigor Dimitrov, seeded 20, but the 17-time Grand Slam champion proved too formidable for the popular American in his first major quarterfinal.

The Spaniard has been in irresistible form in Australia in his first tournament since limping out of the US Open and having foot surgery.

“I feel lucky to be where I am after what I went through to be able to compete at this level,” he said.

“That’s why I get up in the morning and go to the gym and work hard.”

Nadal had never faced the world number 39 before but decided rather than feel his way into the match he would bludgeon Tiafoe from the start.

An immediate break of serve was the result and a controlled romp to the opening set in 31 minutes as he imposed his authority.