Rafael Nadal dropped his first set of the US Open but avoided following Roger Federer out of the tournament as he fought back to defeat Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fourth round.
Nadal and Kohlschreiber were in the first set of their clash when Tommy Robredo knocked Federer out in straight sets
Initially it looked like the much-anticipated quarter-final between Federer and Nadal may instead pit Robredo against Kohlschreiber when the German won the first set but Nadal ran out a 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 6-3 6-1 winner.
Playing at the top of his game, 22nd seed Kohlschreiber kept Nadal at bay and then clinched the first set on a tie-break.
But the Spaniard was guilty of not taking his chances, and it was the same story as Kohlschreiber fought back from 0-40 in a lengthy game to hold for 2-1 in the second set.
The break was coming, though, and Nadal pumped his fist as he finally forged ahead 4-3, going on to level the match.
Kohlschreiber was hanging on by his fingernails but his grip was loosening and Nadal took just his second of 17 break points to move 2-1 ahead in the third.
From then on it seemed just a case of how quickly the second seed would manage to wrap up victory.
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