MASON, Ohio (AP) — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal saved a match point as he and No. 4 Andy Murray were pushed to their limits before moving on to the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters on Thursday. Both got some help with their matches on the line.
Nadal survived a match point in the second-set tiebreaker then surged to a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory over France's Julien Benneteau, who developed leg cramps in the final set and wasn't the same. A worn-out Murray took advantage of Ernests Gulbis' erratic shots — especially in the tiebreaker — for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory.
Everyone else had an easier time in the midday heat.
No one has played less this week than second-ranked Roger Federer, who reached the quarterfinals when Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber withdrew because of a painful right shoulder. It was the second straight match that Federer's opponent got hurt. He's been on court for a total of 28 minutes this week.
Third-ranked Novak Djokovic advanced by beating David Nalbandian 6-1, 7-6 (7).
Stunningly, Nadal came within one point of an early elimination. Benneteau led 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker, but hit a return long. Nadal then ran around a shot and nailed a forehand into the corner, grabbing the momentum. He jumped and punched at the air when Benneteau hit a shot wide to end it.
"He had two aces and after that, I played very good," Nadal said. "My game was on and off. My forehand worked very well — for moments."
During the break, Nadal got a blister pad applied to the bottom of his right foot. Benneteau got his legs rubbed for cramping.
Nadal was much better off, breaking Benneteau twice to pull ahead 3-0 in the final set. Nadal pumped his fist at the end of the 2-hour, 48-minute match.
Murray was exhausted after his comeback, moving on with more stagger than swagger.
The Scot won his second straight Rogers Cup in Toronto on Sunday, beating Federer to defend his title. Fatigue has caught up with him in Cincinnati.
Murray was worn down during his match against Gulbis. He repeatedly bent over and tried to catch his breath after long rallies in the 85-degree F (30 C) heat.
"The conditions are tough here," Murray said. "I've played seven matches in nine days, and every one was between noon and 3 o'clock, when it's warmest. I think anybody would be feeling (tired) in my position."
Murray got his serve broken to open the match and was soon talking to himself and swatting balls away in frustration. He evened the match after two sets by taking advantage of the Latvian's frequent mistakes — 42 unforced errors overall.
It was surprising that Gulbis kept up. He started the season well, beating Federer in May and climbing to a career-best ranking at No. 27. He hurt his right hamstring and missed more than two months. When he returned in Washington this month, he had to quit in the second round because he couldn't handle the heat.
This time, he handled the heat but couldn't put Murray away even after he slowed down his serve to try to get something going.
"His serve was just super-slow," Gulbis said. "It was like, 10 times slower."
Gulbis became so upset after he was broken in the opening game of the third set that he slammed his racket against the court, picked it up and did it again. The twisted red-and-white racket rested next to his courtside chair for the rest of the match, reminding him of those wasted moments.
Gulbis' worst moments came in the third-set tiebreaker. He hit a backhand into the net, sailed a forehand, then plopped a forehand into the net, giving Murray a 3-0 lead. When Gulbis sailed another forehand, Murray was up 6-1 and in position to close out the 2-hour, 33-minute match.
Murray asked to play a night match in the quarterfinals on Friday, giving him a break from the heat and more time to recover. He planned to spend his evening taking an ice bath, getting a massage, stretching and drinking a lot of water.
"I was struggling," he said. "I felt dehydrated on the court."
Federer has had the easiest time this week. He played only 28 minutes in his opening match before Uzbek qualifier Denis Istomin had to quit because of an injured right foot on Wednesday night. Federer didn't even leave the locker room on Thursday — Kohlschreiber's shoulder hurt so bad during a morning practice that he scheduled an MRI.
