Rafael Nadal overcame a stubborn Marcos Baghdatis in Stuttgart as he attempts to get his season back on track. The 29-year-old Spaniard, down to 10th in the world rankings, beat the Cypriot 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 on grass to reach the Mercedes Cup quarter-finals.
Nadal, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals last week, took charge in the third set. The 14-time Grand Slam winner will face Australian fifth seed Bernard Tomic, who saw off Tommy Haas 7-6 (8-6) 6-2.
Tomic was taken to a tie-break in the first set of his second round match by 37-year-old Haas, returning after a year out following shoulder surgery, before he progressed.
Nadal, who had a bye into the second round, said: “The first match on grass is always tough. He’s a very good player and he’d already played a match.
“I need to be more aggressive, to return better, and to move better.
Nadal, at his lowest ranking since he was 11th as a teenager 10 years ago, faced solid resistance from 2006 Australian Open runner-up Baghdatis and dipped to a 59% first serve in the second set.
But the top seed powered clear after breaking in the fourth game of the decider to win in two hours and 40 minutes.
It was a morale-boosting win for the Spaniard who suffered only his second defeat in 72 matches at the French Open last week when he lost in the quarter-final to Novak Djokovic.
The 29-year-old top seed, down at 10th in the ATP rankings after a disappointing year, will have been pleased at how he responded in the deciding set having been pegged back by Baghdatis and the two hours 40 minutes he spent honing his grass court game will serve him well.
”I couldn’t serve the way I wanted to,” a frustrated Haas said.
German qualifier Mischa Zverev continued his good run, beating Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-2, 6-4 for a place in the last eight. Zverev will face second-seeded Marin Cilic, the U.S. Open champion, who beat Matthias Bachinger of Germany 7-6 (2), 6-3.
Rafael Nadal wins against Marcos Baghdatis in Stuttgart
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