Novak Djokovic was forced to battle through a final-set tie-break to reach the last 16 of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
All seemed to be going to plan for the Serbian as he took the opening set 6-3 against Philipp Kohlschreiber with a solitary break, but Kohlschreiber upped his first-serve percentage to 73% in the second and broke three times to take the set 6-2 and level the match.
Two breaks apiece saw a topsy-turvy third set go the distance, but Djokovic prevailed 7/3 in the tie-break to clinch victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
Top seed Rafael Nadal had no such trouble in routing Croatian Mario Ancic 6-2 6-2 as he continued his comeback from a knee injury.
The Spaniard was not required to deal with a break point and prevailed four times on Ancic's normally formidable serve.
He will next face the winner of the all-American clash between Sam Querrey and John Isner.
"Coming back from an injury you have to start slowly," he told Sky Sports 2. "But I am pleased with the way I am playing, and I am in the next round so that is the important thing."
Eleventh seed Juan Carlos Ferrero crashed out in three sets to Juan Monaco.
The Argentinian, seeded 21st, took the opener on a tie break and, after Ferrero levelled courtesy of his only break, he responded to win 7-6 (7/2) 3-6 6-3.
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