World No. 1 Rafael Nadal met strong challenges from Denis Istomin at the ATP Queen's Club tournament on Thursday, but managed to advance into the quarterfinals after three sets.
Nadal couldn't solve the world No. 72 from Uzbekistan until taking the tiebreak 7-4 in the opening set, then lost the second set 4-6 to the big server.
In the decider, the five-time French Open champion Nadal wrapped it up 6-4.
Nadal's next opponent is his compatriot Feliciano Lopez, as the eighth seed beat French Julien Benneteau 6-2, 6-4.