Rafael Nadal has fought back from a set down to defeat his old rival Roger Federer in the last eight of the Cincinnati Open.
The Spaniard made a slack start on serve as he stayed deep behind the baseline, but Federer was unable to take advantage as Nadal survived an early-break point chance to hold.
Federer continued to apply pressure with a series of fierce forehands, eventually making his aggressive start count to break in the 11th game.
A strong first serve helped the Swiss veteran close out the opening set 7-5, but Nadal soon responded as the intensity increased early in the second set.
The Spaniard survived at 0-30 down to edge ahead 4-3 in a tight second set full of lengthy baseline exchanges, before breaking when it counted soon after to level the match.
Early in a deciding third set Nadal set the tone for an onslaught, holding to love before piling the pressure on Federer's serve at 0-40 to earn three swift break points.
Federer was unable to stem the tide as his drop volley fell short at the net, putting Nadal in complete control of the final set as he raced into a 3-0 lead.
The world number five was unable to recover from there, but showed guts in saving three match points as Nadal served out for a 6-3 triumph in the third set.
The 27-year-old held his nerve to seal a place in the quarter-finals, where he will meet Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych.
Liam Power
