Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios set for blockbuster Indian Wells quarter-final clash

Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios set up a blockbuster quarter-final showdown at Indian Wells after the Spaniard extended his perfect start to the season and the Australian received a walkover on Wednesday.

Nadal, who has won his first three tournaments this season including a record-setting 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, moved to 18-0 for the year with a 7-6, 7-6 victory over American Reilly Opelka at the Masters 1000 event in California.

As expected against one of the ATP Tour's biggest servers, Nadal was faced with a barrage of aces in a match of fine margins which comprised just one break of serve each in the second set.

"I managed it so-so," he said of Opelka's serve, which the Spaniard stood as far back in the court as possible to receive. "I don't know if the cameras can follow me like 10 metres behind the baseline."

Nadal, aiming for a fourth Indian Wells title, became just the second player to start a season 18-0 since the ATP Tour launched in 1990. Novak Djokovic has done it twice, starting 41-0 in 2011 and 26-0 in 2020.

The Spaniard will face Kyrgios, who advanced on a walkover when Jannik Sinner withdrew due to illness, on Thursday. Nadal leads the head-to-head 5-3 and the two players have contested several thrilling matches over the years, including the first back in 2014 when Kyrgios announced himself on the world stage with a four-set victory at Wimbledon.

Nadal was followed into the quarter-finals by 18-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, who notched another breakthrough with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over 35-year-old Gael Monfils of France.

Alcaraz, into his first Masters 1000 quarter-final, is the youngest Indian Wells ATP quarter-finalist since 17-year-old Michael Chang in 1989. The winner of the