Nadal digs his way out

Rafael Nadal, the world No 1, survived a major scare in the first round of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. The newly-crowned Australian Open champion was a set down to Italy's Simone Bolelli before fighting back to secure a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory. It was the pair's first meeting and the top seed struggled to counter Bolelli's hitting. Andy Murray battled his way into the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7/4) 7-5 victory in an error-strewn meeting with Andreas Seppi. Mikhail Youzhny knocked out sixth-seeded David Ferrer to reach the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory. Defending champion Michaël Llodra beat Ivo Karlovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Gilles Simon overcame Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 7-6. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won two tie-breaks to see off Jess Huta Galung 7-6, 7-6.

Elsewhere, third-seeded James Blake opened his San Jose Open campaign in style, handing a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to fellow American Vince Spadea on Wednesday. Sam Querrey knocked off Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 5-7, 7-6. Juan Martin Del Potro, the second seed, outlasted Andrea Stoppini 7-6, 7-6. Radek Stepanek triumphed over Chris Guccione 6-2, 7-6, while Tommy Haas edged past Christophe Rochus 6-2, 7-5.

* Agencies