Nadal withstands fierce test

World number one Rafael Nadal battled his way into the US Open quarter-finals Monday, outlasting 55th-ranked Sam Querrey 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to match his best career showing at the Grand Slam event.

The reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion is trying to become only the fourth man to win three Slam singles crowns in a row, joining Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and the man he dethroned atop the rankings, Roger Federer.

"Very tough," Nadal said. "I'm very happy for the victory. Now I'm in my best round at the US Open and I hope to play better in the next round."

But Nadal struggled in the face of an epic effort from lanky US 20-year-old Querrey, who nearly made his fourth-round Slam debut a shocker for the ages and cast major doubt upon whether or not Nadal has what it takes to win a US Open.

NEW YORK, Tuesday AFP