• BNP Paribas Open

Nadal just survives unexpected epic

Rafael Nadal would not have predicted he would be celebrating so passionately against Ivo Karlovic © Getty Images

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Rafael Nadal recorded one of the more incredible victories of his career in the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals on Thursday, beating Ivo Karlovic in a third set tie-breaker to decide an epic contest.

It was far from a glamour tie on paper but the quality and intensity on show in the night match in Indian Wells was comparable to the later stages of a Grand Slam, as was the drama as Nadal clinched it 5-7 6-1 7-6 (9-7).

The unfancied Karlovic had a horrible record of 3-7 in 2011 before this tournament but his sudden burst of form continued as he matched Nadal game for game in the first set until 5-5.

The 208cm, serve-speed record-holding Croatian nor the world No.1 had created a break point by that point but Karlovic timed his challenge perfectly, producing some big hitting to break Nadal and go up 6-5. Nadal earned his first break points as his winning mentality shone through in the next game but Karlovic fired up his massive serve to clinch the set.

That sparked Nadal into action and the Spaniard raced 5-0 ahead in the second, barely giving Karlovic a point until late in the set when the world No. 239 finally held held serve to stem the tide going into the deciding set.

The last set took on the pattern of the first as each player held serve with no threat of a break and the pulsating Indian Wells crowd got the tie-break showdown they wanted and the match deserved. Nadal had to produce his best tennis including some scorching forehand winners to get 5-2 ahead before Karlovic fought back miraculously to 5-5. Eventually though, Nadal's class shone brightest and he celebrated wildly before joining the standing ovation that accompanied Karlovic's exit from the court.

Juan Martin del Potro will be fit and fresh to meet Nadal in their semi-final after Tommy Robredo pulled out of their quarter-final injured before it began.

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