It’s been 15 years since Australia had both a man and a woman in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

But that drought will end if Nick Kyrgios can upset world No.1 Rafael Nadal in their blockbuster Australian Open clash on Monday night.

With Ashleigh Barty already into the last-eight following her triumph against American Alison Riske, the pair can match Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik’s efforts in 2005.

Hewitt went on to lose the final against Marat Safin, while Molik went no further as she suffered a nail-biting defeat to Lindsay Davenport.

The task in front of world No.26 Kyrgios is monumental, with Nadal in scintillating form and on a mission to claim his second Australian Open title after lasting winning in 2009.

The match-up would already be fascinating without the extra spice of the mixed on-and-off court history between the pair.

But for their at-times heated rivalry, Kyrgios is maintaining the utmost professional respect for the 19-times grand slam champion.

“I mean, (despite) what happens between us, he is an amazing player. He is arguably the greatest of all time,” he said.

“He is a champion. I will do everything I can and hopefully give everything I have and hopefully it will be enough.”

Kyrgios’ record against the Spanish legend is one of the best on tour, winning three out of their seven encounters.

They have shared the spoils in majors, with the Canberran famously downing Nadal at Wimbeldon six years ago in an almighty upset.

To get to the Round of 16, Kyrgios played the longest match of his career to outlast Russian Karen Khachanov in five sets while being troubled by an upper leg compliant.

Compare that to Nadal, who wiped countryman Pablo Carreno Busta off court without even facing a break-point in the third-round demolition.

The winner will run into either Frenchman Gael Monfils or fifth seed Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals.

Also on court will be Alexei Popyrin’s conqueror Daniil Medvedev, who faces three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka.

Young guns Andrey Rublev and German Alexander Zverev will battle in the other men’s fourth-round clash.

The women’s draw is wide open as 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber takes on Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Kiki Bertens plays a resurgent Garbine Muguruza.

Fourth seed Simon Halep is in action against Elise Mertens, as is Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit against Iga Swiatek.