By Chris Oddo | Thursday, February 19th, 2015

 

Rafael Nadal battled past Pablo Carreno Busta in two tight sets for his 320th career clay-court win on Thursday in Rio.

Photo Source: Rio Open

Rafael Nadal continued his winning ways at the Rio Open, taking down Pablo Carreno Busta in a surprisingly entertaining and competitive tussle, 7-5, 6-3.

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The scoreline sounds simple, but Nadal’s route to victory was far from direct.

Nonetheless and as expected, Nadal’s 320th career win on clay lands him in the Rio Open quarterfinals where he’ll next face red-hot Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.

During the two hour and two minute battle with the 23-year-old Spaniard, Nadal found himself in hot water on numerous occasions. He fell behind a break in the fifth game of the first set when Carreno Busta rocketed a forehand return that Nadal could not get a racquet on, but Nadal broke back in the next game when his opponent netted an ill-advised dropper.

Nadal would have plenty of opportunities to close the set, but Carreno Busta answered the bell time and time again. The curly-topped world No. 55 saved three set points to level at 5-all, the third being an incredible backhand crosscourt played off a high-bouncing Nadal mishit that drew hearty applause from the crowd.

Two games later Carreno Busta would save a fourth set point, but Nadal would crack through on his fifth opportunity when he sent a dipping backhand pass that his compatriot couldn’t handle at the net.

In the second set, Carreno Busta threatened to move ahead in the seventh game, but Nadal fought him off and notched the critical break when Gijon, Spain native netted a forehand.

Carreno Busta would have a shot to break back in the next game as well, but would net a second serve return before Nadal closed him out with two menacing serves.

Nadal struck 22 winners against 20 unforced errors on the day, while Carreno Busta hit 30 winners against only 19 unforced.

In other action on Thursday at Rio, Fabio Fognini reached the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Pablo Andujar, while Federico Delbonis topped Martin Klizan, 6-2, 6-2.

Cuevas, who will face Nadal for the first time in his career in Fridays quarterfinals, took down Albert Montanes, 6-2, 6-2, for his seventh consecutive win.