Nadal Passes Blake Test, Other Seeds Not So Lucky

Top-seed Rafael Nadal passed James Blake 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4 after 2 hours and 11 minutes of play. Blake gave the Spaniard trouble last week in Beijing and proved to be slightly problematic again this week.

It looked like the Spaniard might wrap up the match quickly after taking the first set and getting a break in the second set. Blake, who is not known for having a plan B or C, was able to change up his tactics a bit and also started to play better. Blake broke back in the second set and was able remain on serve. He finally walked away with the second set in the tiebreak.

In the third set, the players remained on serve until Nadal broke in the fifth game of the third set. Blake was able to break back in game seven. After holding serve at love, Nadal went on attack in game ten. The attack proved too much for the American, and Nadal finally closed out the match.

Nadal now advances to the round of 16 to play compatriot Tommy Robredo. The Majorcan was also aided today when his draw opened up after third-seed Juan Martin del Potro retired in his match with Austrian Jurgen Melzer. The recent US Open champion has had Nadal's number of late, so the Spaniards's possible trip to the final has been made a lot easier.

Fifteenth-seed Tommy Haas also retired to allow Rainer Schuettler to advance. Other downed seeds today include Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer, who loss to Feliciano Lopez no less. Lopez will play Melzer in the next round.

(Image: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)