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Rafael Nadal battle past John Isner 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Rafa saved two set points to clinch the first set in the tie-break. Isner stormed back in the second set, recovering from 0-40 on his serve to hold and then break to go up 5-4 before eventually forcing a third set.
“My mentality in the third [set was] very positive,” said Nadal. “The game, the level of tennis, [it] improved a little bit in the third than in the previous two sets. That's very important for me. [I’m] very happy to be in quarter-finals. [It’s a] very important result for me.”
[It’s] a challenge for me to find again the positive feelings, the confidence, the feeling that I am strong again. Matches like today, [the] third set today, helps to improve, helps to arrive to that place that I want to be.”
Nadal next faces fifth seed David Ferrer, who advanced 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-1 over No. 10 seed Gilles Simon.
Novak Djokovic defeated Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-4, 6-0 in the third round.
“I've played quite a lot of matches this year, so I don't think I'm missing the competitive rhythm on the court; I actually feel confident,” said Djokovic. “I've played and won a lot of matches this year, fortunately.
Djokovic will next face Marin Cilic who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-3, 7-6(5) in 74 minutes.
“I have Marin Cilic [next], who is a Grand Slam winner, who is playing the tennis of his life… I look forward to that challenge. Obviously now it's going to get tougher.”
Photos Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe
