Last year's finalist Borna Coric has saved eight break points to beat local wild card Reda El Amrani and reach the quarter-finals at the Grand Prix Hassan II.
Ranked 667th in the world, El Amrani hit six aces and broke Coric three times but struggled with his own serve and eventually lost 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-5).
Coric rallied from 5-3 down in the decider and tweeted afterward: "Very difficult match today. Didn't play my best, but hats off to Reda El Amrani. Survived, going to be back for more on Friday."
Coric next faces second-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who rallied past qualifier Laslo Djere 6-7 (7-4) 6-1 6-4.
Also advancing at the clay-court tournament were fifth-seeded Paolo Lorenzi and sixth-seeded Benoit Paire, who both made it to the second round.
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