The Bulgarian had suffered defeat to Kyrgios in the Brisbane International earlier in the month but put himself on course for revenge by winning the opening two sets on tie breaks.

Kyrgios responded impressively in the third at the Rod Laver Arena, with the Australian breaking his rival on route to taking the set 6-4.

The 22-year-old, at the centre of several controversial incidents in the past, clashed with the chair umpire during the tie.

He was left frustrated when Dimitrov broke to have the chance to serve for the match, but Kyrgios immediately struck back to force another tie break.

As with the previous two tie breaks, Dimitrov emerged as the winner to wrap up a 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 victory.

The third seed will now is due to face Kyle Edmund after the British player advanced to his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Edmund lost the opening set to Italy's Andreas Seppi on a tie-break before gradually taking control to win 6-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

World number one Rafael Nadal was taken to four sets by Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, although the Spaniard ultimately emerged as the winner.

The 2009 champion, the runner-up last year, earned a 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 win to reach the last eight. 

Nadal will meet Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals after the Croatian triumphed 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6 against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

World number two Caroline Wozniacki eased into the last eight of the women’s singles draw, as she swept past Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova.

The Danish star achieved a straightforward 6-3, 6-0 win.

Wozniacki is now set to clash with Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in the quarter-finals after she beat Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 4-6, 6-4, 8-6.

Elise Mertens won 7-6, 7-5 against Croatia's Petra Martic, with the Belgian now set to face Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, who beat the Czech Republic’s Denisa Allertova 6-3, 6-0.