Rafael Nadal scraped through his fourth-round tie with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Pacific Life Open, the defending champion coming from one set down and 5-2 behind in the third set to eventually win 6-7 7-6 7-5 on Wednesday.
The Spaniard therefore gained revenge of sorts for the Frenchman’s victory in the Australian Open semi-final at the start of the year, Tsonga’s high-risk strategy ultimately backfiring and allowing his opponent to win in just under three hours.
After the opening two sets were shared on tie breaks, both players held serve until the sixth game of the decider.
However, after controlling a protracted rally, Nadal then over-hit a forehand to be broken and trail 4-2.
Tsonga appeared to be in control when 5-3 ahead and serving for the match but he was crucially broken by Nadal when a forehand flew wide.
Nadal then capitalised by breaking the Frenchman again in the 11th, Tsonga double-faulting before hitting another forehand long.
Now 6-5 up, Nadal then served out for victory and will next meet American James Blake, who eased past another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, 6-4 6-2.
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