There was clearly differing fortunes with the 'Big Four' in Thursday, with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer along with Andy Murray reserving their spots in the quarter-finals of the Western & Southern Open, while Rafael Nadal was knocked out.
As has already been the case all too often in recent a few months, Nadal struggled to make it for the business end with a big event, while using Spaniard beaten 7-5, 4-6, 6-7 (3) through compatriot Feliciano Lopez.
Nadal is at the ascendency beginning, breaking Lopez to travel 5-3 up in the opening set. Lopez could break back, but it really was Nadal who secured the vital second break in the seventh game for taking the set 7-5.
Nadal is at the ascendency beginning, breaking Lopez to travel 5-3 up in the opening set. Lopez could break back, but it really was Nadal who secured the vital second break in the seventh game for taking the set 7-5.
The 2003 champion could not replicate that form in the second set however, with Lopez grabbing a beginning break and holding onto that advantage for taking the set 6-4 and create a decider.
The pair upped the game on serve in the third set, with neither gamer offering up a break point opportunity for the reason that set headed right tiebreaker. It was there that Lopez edged onward though, with the entire world number 23 holding his nerve for taking the breaker 7-3 along with it the go with.
The second-seeded Federer got no such difficulties and wasted almost no time in dispatching associated with South African Kevin Anderson 6-1, 6-1.
Anderson can be famed for his powerful serve, but Federer made lighting work of, showing impressive aggression for taking the Anderson provide early. It's a new tactic that settled dividends as he broke the 15th seed five periods, while never facing a break point on his own serve.
Matters were not as straightforward for Murray, who had to come from a pair down to beat Grigor Dimitrov 4-6 7-6 7-5.
Dimitrov looked the higher quality of the match on his solution to taking the 1st set, but Murray responded well late in the second set to edge a tiebreaker after forcing his long ago into the collection after Dimitrov got taken a 4-1 cause.
Murray broke Dimitrov in the opening game on the decider as he looked for taking control, but the Bulgarian wouldn't go quietly along with broke back before hitting the front. With Murray serving in which to stay the match, Dimitrov got a match position, but he lost it and can be made to pay out.
Having seen his chances of victory stymied for the second time, Dimitrov wilted a little and Murray pounced, breaking Dimitrov twice for taking the decider 7-5 along with it the win in the fact that was a titanic fight.
In one on the day's early fits, top seed Novak Djokovic survived a major scare to beat Belgian David Goffin 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
