Nadal progresses to China Open quarter-finals

BEIJING: Rafael Nadal's bid to return to the top of the world rankings remained on course Wednesday as he progressed to the quarter-finals of the China Open, overcoming stubborn resistance from Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The current world number two could return to the top spot for the first time since July 2011 if he reaches the final in Beijing, and he moved a step closer following his 6-4, 7-6(7/3) victory.

But his German opponent ensured the second seed Spaniard had to dig deep to ensure his passage to the last eight in a game that lasted 1 hour 55 minutes.

Nadal took an early 2-0 lead before being pegged back at 3-3. But he took the first set by breaking Kohlschreiber's serve in the final game.

The intense competition continued into the second set, where neither opponent broke serve, forcing the tie-break.

Nadal could unseat Novak Djokovic from the top spot, no matter what the Serb does in the competition.

He will face Fabio Fognini in the quarter-finals, after the Italian ruthlessly swept aside Australia's former world number one Lleyton Hewitt in a crushing 6-0, 6-2 defeat. (AFP)