Second-ranked Rafael Nadal overcame American James Blake 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open. The Spaniard seemed to have the second set in hand, building a 5-3 lead, but Blake broke twice to force the tiebreak. The two battled evenly in the third set until Nadal broke Blake in the eighth game, finally prevailing when Blake's return on match point hit the net.