Clay king and world No. 3 Rafael Nadal has thwarted a determined challenge from fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Rio Open.
Top seed Nadal, determined to kick-start his season on clay as he targets a 10th French Open crown, won 7-5 6-3 against 55th-ranked Carreno to advance to a Friday meeting with Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas, ranked 23.
Cuevas saw off Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-2 6-2.
Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Nadal missed three set points in the opener and had to dig deep as his rival fought tirelessly to keep pace with his decorated rival, who is bidding to retain the title he won in Rio 12 months ago.
"It was pretty humid and he is a tough young cookie. I am very happy to be through to the quarters," said Nadal, 28.
"It was a tough match. I was glad to get the break back when he got to 3-2. At 5-4 I made a couple of mistakes. Then in the second set I was a bit tired from the first to begin with and sought to bring my serve through.
"At 3-2 I tried to get the break and it didn't come off but the next one did. For me every win is important - and especially on clay."
Nadal has made a tentative start to this year after a slew of injury problems last season.
He lost in the first round in Doha and then at the Australian Open made a surprise exit against Tomas Berdych.
In the women's event, top-seeded Sara Errani of Italy reached the quarters, beating Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez 6-0 7-5.
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