Nadal survives Gulbis test as top seeds cruise
Defending champion Rafael Nadal endured a three-set thriller before overcoming big-hitting Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the Rome Masters quarterfinals.
Gulbis, ranked 46th, and a winner in Rome in 2010 over Roger Federer on his way to the semifinals, saved two match points in the third set, but finally went down when he sent a forehand wide to the massive relief of a dancing, celebrating Nadal.
The Spaniard now stands 6-0 against Gulbis as he bids for a seventh Rome title.
He will next face compatriot David Ferrer, who advanced in a walkover against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, who was suffering from vertigo.
"On Friday, I have a chance against a very difficult player. I survived a tough match today. Now I have another chance to try and go further," said Nadal.
Nadal has won five titles from seven finals since returning to tennis after a seven-month injury absence.
Top seed Novak Djokovic played without ankle pain in a routine 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Djokovic dispatched Dolgopolov in an hour, with five aces and 13 winners in a contest that began 45 minutes late due to morning rain.
Djokovic said that he had almost forgotten about his ankle injury since winning the title in Monte Carlo over Nadal last month.
"I've been pain-free for a week but I'm still very cautious in my warm-up and recovery. I don't think it will bother me anymore and I don't think about it when I'm on the court," he said.
Second seed Federer demolished Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2 and set up a meeting with Jerzy Janowicz after the Pole knocked out Richard Gasquet, the ninth seed, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
In the women's event, world number one Serena Williams comfortably made the quarterfinals with a 6-0, 6-1 mauling of Slovakia's 14th seed Dominika Cibulkova.
Second seed Maria Sharapova out-hit Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour.
Unseeded two-time champion Jelena Jankovic upset 2011 Roland Garros winner Li Na, the Chinese fifth seed, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5.
"I felt like I wasn't playing so badly today. It was just a really long, tough match between me and JJ," Li said.
AFP - Global Times