LONDON (AP) Rafael Nadal was stretched by Czech Radek Stepanek before advancing to the quarterfinals at Queen's Club on Thursday.
The French Open champion won 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 to join third-seeded Andy Roddick and second-seeded Andy Murray in the last eight.
Roddick, who is bidding for his fifth title at Queen's Club, beat 15th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-4, 6-4. Murray overcame Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-4, 7-6 (3).
Nadal was never seriously threatened but Stepanek proved to be a tenacious opponent. He fought back from 5-2 down in the second set to push the match into a third set.