No. 2 Rafael Nadal survived in five sets for the second straight match, beating No. 33 Philipp Petzschner 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3.
The first seven games of the final set were holds, but Nadal’s break in the eighth game quickly expedited the finish, as he ended in the next game with an easy hold.
Nadal faces another player with questionable closing skills, unseeded Paul-Henri Mathieu, in the next round. After that one, though, things will get real serious real fast against No. 6 Robin Soderling. It’s tough to see him making it past that match with the way he’s playing now.