Top seed Rafael Nadal is through to the quarter-finals of the bet-at-home Open in Hamburg after beating Jiri Vesely 6-4 7-6 (7/2), but the world number 10 did not have it all his own way.
Nadal rued seven double faults in the match, with the Czech breaking serve on four occasions. Ultimately, though, the Spaniard found a way to secure victory.
The pair traded breaks at the start of the match, with Nadal gaining a crucial second in the third game on his way to wrapping up the first set.
After starting the next set in exactly the same way, Nadal later squandered a match point due to a careless double fault before atoning for that error in a comfortable tie-break.
"I think I played a good match," Nadal said on the ATP Tour website. "Something that I am proud of, very happy with, [is] my attitude and [I'm] very happy with the way that I played. I just need a little bit more consistency."
Pablo Cuevas is next up for Nadal after the Uruguayan saw off Jerzy Janowicz 6-3 4-6 6-2 after an hour and 34 minutes.
Elsewhere, fourth seed Andreas Seppi regathered his composure to bounce back after going a set behind to wild card Florian Mayer. He eventually toppled the German 4-6 6-2 6-3, but needed over an hour and a half to do it.
Seppi will go up against fellow Italian Simone Bolelli in the next round after the world number 71 powered down nine aces on his way to a 6-1 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 triumph over Jaume Munar.
Source: PA
