Andy Roddick had to dig deep to see off the challenge of Fernando Verdasco to progress to the quarter-finals of the Montreal Masters.
The world number five required two tie-breaks to see off his 10th-ranked opponent, eventually prevailing 7-6 (7/2) 4-6 7-6 (7/5).
In a match that lasted two hours and 37 minutes, Roddick's normally impenetrable serve was broken twice, first in the 10th game of the second set to pull Verdasco level in the match, and again when Roddick was serving for the match at 5-4 in the third.
Roddick held his nerve in the subsequent tie-break, however, to set up a last-eight encounter with world number four Novak Djokovic at the outdoor hard-court event.
The Serbian had earlier become the first player to qualify for the quarter-finals when he ousted Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, ranked 29th, 6-3 6-4.
Andy Murray's bid to climb to second place in the world rankings continued apace with a comprehensive straight-sets win over Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero.
The Scot rarely look troubled in testing hot conditions as he raced to a 6-1 6-3 against the former world number one to book his place in the quarter-finals.
Murray broke in the first Ferrero service game of the match and forced a second break in the sixth before wrapping up the opening set with a thumping ace.
Former world number one Ferrero, who beat Gael Monfils to reach the last-16 stage, received more of the same punishment at the start of the second set, Murray converting his second break-point chance before holding the rest of the way to take victory in one hour and 17 minutes.
Sixth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro also progressed as he defeated Victor Hanescu of Romania 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Fernando Gonzalez came through the last singles match of the day in Montreal as opponent Tommy Haas was forced to retire injured before the second set began.
Hard-hitting Chilean Gonzalez had won the opening set on a tie-break.
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