Rafael Nadal vs Marin Cilic, Australian Open 2018: live score updates

Pressure now on Nadal's serve now as Cilic draws the error to reel the Spaniard to 30-all. Nadal crucially wins the next point but then a double fault continues a below-par period to this contest. 

A forehand error from Nadal gifts Cilic a break point but he saves it in style with an ace down the T. He enjoyed that one. A solid first serve out wide swings the game in his favour but Cilic leaps on a Nadal return that clips the tape to hang around. Nadal takes his chances at the net and it pays off during the next point. He spins and pumps his fist as he successfully negotiations his own way out of a brief sticky patch.

Nadal lines up again around 15 yards behind the baseline as he settles down for a Cilic first serve. He takes advantage of a second serve, working enough space to drill a forehand winner down the line but then looks on as a Cilic serve-volley brings him level. The Spaniard stands back for a Cilic serve this time and the Croatian takes control of the point before floating a forehand wide. Nadal continues to take his chance from behind the baseline, but Cilic has him scampering out wide with a forehand pinged to the corner. Nadal berates himself but is able to stay in the game when Cilic drags another groundstroke wide. The Croatian struggling to close out the game and hands Nadal a gift of a break point with his first double fault of the match. Cilic composes himself, sends down a strong and deep first serve which is too good but then hands back the advantage to Nadal with a sloppy ground stroke. This time Nadal is forced out wide and can't lift his backhand over the net. 

Nadal sets up break point No 3 with a flick of his left-wrist to send a service return whizzing past Cilic. But again, he can't back up his advantage and loops the next return long much to his annoyance. After seven deuces and after saving five break points, Cilic finally strings two points together for a crucial hold.  

The first lengthy duel of the match goes Cilic's way when Nadal sends one forehand long. The Spaniard makes up it on the next point, striking a winner down the line while leaning backwards. A trusty out-swinging first serve sets Nadal up to dispatch another winner for two game points. He misses the first but a solid first serve gets him over the line.

The outswinging ace comes up trumps for Cilic now but then the Croatian is over-zealous with his next stroke play as he tightens up hitting through a forehand. Another out-swinging first serve allows Cilic enough room to send a backhand winner into the opposite corner but Nadal reels in his opponent again by rushing the net and smashing a volley home. 

Classy play from Cilic at a crucial moment at 30-all as the sixth seed floats a perfectly-placed backhand on the line and out of Nadal's reach. An unforced error allows Nadal to hang around but an overhead backhand winner  and ace gives Cilic breathing space.

Boom. Nadal sends down his first ace of the match out wide. Cilic gets a racket head on the next outswinging first serve but can't get it back but then shows good court movement to charge down a drop shot to deliver a winner. That's the first point won off either man's serve so far. Two forehand winners down the line ensure Nadal doesn't allow Cilic a sniff of another point.

Cilic opens up with an outswinging first serve which forces Nadal well behind the baseline. He follows it with a zipping forehand winnner across court and secures his own love game when Nadal can't control a couple of serves.

A sleveless Nadal serves first and is aggressive from the off. Solid serving from the Spaniard and he's up and running with a love game.

Cilic's former coach offers his words of wisdom:

“He’s one of the best players the past couple of years but Rafa is going to be tough for him.

“Rafa is looking strong, hitting the ball well and the only chance for Cilic to win is if he’s extra aggressive and he needs to serve well. If he doesn’t serve well, there’s no chance.”

Cilic enters the Rod Laver first followed by the world No 1 . Cilic last reached the semi-final in Melbourne back in 2010 while Nadal, of course, was a finalist last time out.

The Aussie Open has been all about first-timers. Not only has Edmund reached a first major semi-final, but in the women's draw, Elise Mertens earlier today booked her place in the last four of a slam in her debut at the season-opening major.

Mertens upset fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 to extend her winning streak to 10 matches. She's also the first Belgian since Kim Clijsters in 2012 to reach the semi-finals in Australia, and knew she had plenty of support at home.

Mertens dominated throughout against Svitolina, who also reached her first quarter-final in Australia on a nine-match winning roll after winning the Brisbane International two week ago.

Svitolina had won their only previous tour-level match, but had no answers on Rod Laver Arena and later said hip trouble had been bothering her all year.

So after Kyle Edmund's exceptional win over Grigor Dimitrov early this morning, we will find out in the next few hours or so just who the Briton will take on in Thursday's semi-final.

World No 1 Rafael Nadal faces 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in the first evening match on Rod Laver Arena for the right to play Edmund.

Cilic has lost five of his last six matches against Nadal including one in Melbourne seven years ago when the Spaniard won their fourth-round clash in straight-sets.

In fact, Cilic, last year's Wimbledon finalist, has only ever taken one set off his rival put that was back in 2015 on the indoor Basle courts. 

Cilic has dropped two sets en route to his place in the last eight in Melbourne while Nadal has lost only one.

Edmund has played and lost once to Nadal - that meeting coming on clay in Monte Carlo last spring. Similarly, Edmund holds the same record against Cilic. The Croatian proving victorious in the third round of the Shanghai Masters last October.