Indian Wells (USA): Defending champion Rafael Nadal came from a set down and 5-2 behind in the third to scrape past Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 in the Pacific Life Open fourth round on Wednesday.
World No.1 Roger Federer made smooth progress, meanwhile, the three-times champion outplaying Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-4 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
In a repeat of this year's Australian Open semi-final in which Tsonga upset Nadal, the Spaniard gained revenge by winning a fluctuating encounter in just over three hours.
"A victory like this is always special and it gives me confidence," second seed Nadal said after dropping his first set of the tournament.
"I played better today than in Australia, but the conditions are better here for me. I played a comfortable match because I didn't have too many mistakes," added the Spaniard, who beat Serb Novak Djokovic in last year's final.
Nadal won the last five games as Tsonga's high-risk strategy ultimately backfired and he will next meet American James Blake who eased past another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 6-2.
The aggressive Tsonga, nicknamed Ali for his resemblance to the former world heavyweight boxing champion, ended the match with an overall tally of 47 winners and 56 unforced errors.
Third-seeded Djokovic earlier crushed Argentina's Guillermo Canas 6-2, 6-3.
Federer cruises
Federer was pleased to break the big-serving Ljubicic three times to complete his third straight sets win of the week.
"I really felt good and thought I moved extremely well," the Swiss said.
"I came up with some great plays at the right time. He's a tough player and to break him three times is a great effort, I think. He really had trouble acing me today," the 26-year-old added, referring to Ljubicic's match tally of four.
"I felt like nothing could get past me and this is exactly how I want to feel this week."
Australian Open champion Djokovic was delighted to wrap up his match in two sets against the player who stunned Federer in the second round last year.
"I think the characteristic of the top players is to play better and better, match after match, and I think I'm doing that," the world No. 3 said.
Germany's Tommy Haas came from a set down to upset 11th-seeded Briton Andy Murray 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 and Argentina's David Nalbandian, the seventh seed, brushed aside Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 6-2.
Twice champion Lleyton Hewitt was knocked out by American Mardy Fish, who beat the Australian for the first time 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, and Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka overcame South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
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