Rafael Nadal saves four match points to beat David Goffin in exhausting epic at Madrid Open

Rafael Nadal saved four match points to battle past David Goffin in an exhausting 6-3 5-7 7-6(9) win and reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open. Nadal started brutally from the off, sweeping four consecutive points with his opening service game and then immediately putting pressure on Goffin.

Ad/> The Spaniard moved his rival around the court, looking a little less uncomfortable than he had in his previous outing with an ankle problem, but despite forcing a break point could not go into an early two-game lead. /> ATP MadridHighlights: Rublev topples Britain's Evans to reach last eight in Madrid5 HOURS AGO Goffin’s string of unforced errors kept things easy for the home favourite in the early stages, but not to the extent that he failed to keep his service game intact.

The Belgian showed his doughty qualities when he broke in the fifth game after a poor miss from Nadal. Earlier in the game, Nadal was given a code violation warning for delays over his service which put him off his stride, and betrayed the lack of action that he has had so far this year.

Jabeur becomes first Arican player to reach WTA 1000 final in Madrid Murray withdraws before Djokovic match due to food poisoning Nadal's frantic sprint to watch Real beat City after his own victory — Madrid Open diary However Nadal’s experience showed when he responded with a break of his own, the first of four games on the spin for the Spaniard, with Goffin crumbling under pressure to double-fault. A poor return from Goffin in his next service game took the pressure off Nadal, who then held to take the opening set despite his struggles with the rib injury he was carrying into the tournament.

The former world No. 1 was aiming for his first Madrid Open tournament