Nadal survives tough test from junior star

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was pushed hard by 17-year-old junior champion Grigor Dimitrov before pulling out a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 victory Thursday to advance to the ABN Amro quarterfinals.

Dimitrov showed he wasn't nervous or intimidated when the 478th-ranked wild card from Bulgaria broke Nadal in the first set to pull even at 4-4, only to lose his serve again at 5-5 as Nadal won the set.

Last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open junior champ broke Nadal at 4-3 in the second and held on to force a deciding third set.

There, Nadal used his experience, saving two break points and finally winning after 2 hours, 25 minutes, as Dimitrov suffered leg cramps.

"He will certainly be a great player and for sure reach the top 10," Nadal said.

Nadal advanced to face seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who beat Dmitry Tursunov 7-6 (6), 6-2.

Also in the second round, second-seeded Andy Murray beat Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-6 (4) 7-5, and fifth-seeded Gael Monfils ousted defending champion Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4.