• Wimbledon, Day Seven

Nadal survives second five-set ordeal

Rafael Nadal smashes a forehand © Getty Images

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Rafael Nadal survived a stern test of his grass court credentials, needing all five sets to progress past Germany's Philipp Petzschner at Wimbledon.

The world No. 1, who missed the defence of his 2008 title with a knee injury last season, has been on red-hot form after winning four back-to-back titles on clay, but looked far from his imperious best, as he laboured to a 6-4 4-6 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 victory.

After winning the opening set, Nadal looked to be on course for a routine victory, but Petzschner was firing on all cylinders and grabbed his first break point, winning a battle of the volleys in the final game of the second set to level the match.

Although Nadal showed moments of brilliance, he was far from his sparkling best and he was faced with an uphill battle when he lost the third on a tie-breaker. The second seed called the trainer for treatment on his elbow and was in danger of being broken in the third, but unleashed his best tennis to force the set to a tie-breaker.

Nadal handed his opponent the advantage when he sent a forehand pass into the net, and although Petzschner let two set points slip from his grasp, he sealed the set in emphatic fashion with a comfortable ace.

However, despite the fact Petzschner was still hitting the winners, the German was beginning to tire and he too received treatment from the trainer. Having come through two five-set encounters in his previous two matches, the German was feeling the fatigue, and the mistakes began to creep in.

In the end, Nadal underlined his status as the world No. 1 and fought back to seal the victory after three hours and 45 minutes on court, and book a last-16 clash with Paul-Henri Mathieu, who beat Thiemo de Bakker 7-6(5) 7-6(6) 6-7(8) 6-4.

Also on Saturday, sixth seed Robin Soderling progressed into the second week for the second year running after outhitting Thomaz Bellucci.

The French Open finalist struggled to find a way to interrupt the Brazilian's serve in the opening set, eventually sealing the advantage with his first break point in the tenth. Soderling then paced through the second set with relative ease, but he was met with resistance in the third as Bellucci dug his heels in. After saving a break point at 5-5, the third set looked to be heading for a tie-breaker, but the Swede, who is yet to drop a set at Wimbledon this year, wrapped up a 6-4 6-2 7-5 victory when Bellucci hit a backhand long.

In the late game of the day, Sam Querrey held his nerve to beat Xavier Malisse 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2 5-7 9-7. Querrey, who won Queen's, now faces Andy Murray in round four.

Elsewhere, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eased to a 6-1 6-4 7-6(1) victory over Tobias Kamke, while David Ferrer lives to fight another day after he overcame Jeremy Chardy 7-5 6-3 4-6 3-6 7-5.

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