China Open—Beijing, China

Top seed Rafael Nadal won his second straight three set match on Thursday, defeating former top five player James Blake, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-3.

The two hour and 24 minute clash consisted of numerous forehand winners by both competitors coupled with superb serving. 

Nadal struck six aces, won 67 percent of his first serve points, and saved 8-11 break point opportunities against his delivery. 

Blake was equally as stellar in his serve games, recording six aces and winning 70 percent of his first serve points. 

Nadal was able to get the better of Blake during 5-6 break point opportunities, converting on a crucial break of serve at 3-4 Blake serving in the third set, to close out the match.

"I played a very good match. I had the match under control," Nadal said.

"I managed to save very important points and when I had the chance I took it."

Blake managed to win the second set tiebreak when Nadal hit a backhand return long.

The American returned the favor to the Spaniard on his first match point by donating an errant backhand return miss. 

All in all, it was an encouraging match for Blake who is now coached by American Kelly Jones. Blake had previous been coached by American Brian Baker since he was eight-years-old. It was revealed on Wednesday that the pair had split in September. 

Jones had previously worked with Mardy Fish.

Nadal and Blake had a nice exchange at the net after the match was over with Blake candidly telling Nadal "it's nice to see you healthy again." 

Nadal replied with a clam "you too."

With the win, Nadal's perfect streak in China stayed intact (13-0), while improving his head-to-head with Blake to 3-3. Nadal has won the last three meetings with Blake.

The top seed will now set his sights on Russian powerhouse Marat Safin, after the former world No. 1 defeated Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4.

Safin captured his first win against Gonzalez after losing six straight matches, improving his head-to-head with the Argentine to 6-3.

Safin hit 12 aces, won 88 percent of his first serve points and broke serve on two occasions during the one hour and nine minute contest. 

The tall Russian used his potent backhand wing and frequent trips to the net to offset his hard hitting opponent. This combination of point construction became the key for Safin's victory on Thursday with the big man finishing off his 13th win of the season with an overhead.

Nadal leads Safin 1-0 in the pair's head-to-head meetings, with their lone match coming at the 2007 Masters 1000 event in Montreal.

Safin commented on his upcoming match with his Spanish opponent in his post match presser.

"I know I will play better tomorrow," said Safin. "Nadal is going to be the favourite. I have no pressure; I’m just going to play my game, go for it, be aggressive and then we’ll see.  It’s going to be my biggest match in a long time so I’m pretty excited."

The heavyweight fight will take place Friday evening at China's National Tennis Center. 

Elsewhere, Ivan Ljubicic ended the run of qualifier Lukasz Kubot, defeating the No. 143 ranked Polish player, 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4. Kubot had upset set defending champ Andy Roddick in first round action. 

Ljubicic stuck 14 aces and won 78 percent of his first serve points to advance to his sixth quarterfinal of the season in two hours and 35 minutes. 

Ljubicic will next face Robin Soderling, who won the final match of the day over Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-3.

The in form Swede played solid throughout the one hour and 19 minute victory, overpowering Robredo from the baseline while striking five aces and winning 83 percent of his first serve points. 

Soderling and Ljubicic have played on four occasions on the ATP World Tour with Ljubicic leading the pair's head-to-head 3-1. 

Friday's remaining quarterfinal match ups in China will feature: 

Nikolay Davydenko vs. Marin Cilic and Novak Djokovic vs. Fernando Verdasco.

Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships—Tokyo, Japan

Recent Bangkok champ Gilles Simon was upset in the second round of the Japan Open on Thursday, losing to Russian Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-4.

The two hour and 39 minute barnburner featured a consistent battle which was won by the crafty Russian.

Youzhny capitalized on his fourth break point opportunity late in the third set to record his 30th win of the season, as well as his 4th straight win over Simon. 

Simon was continuing in his bid to capture one of three remaining spots for the Barclays ATP World Tour final. Simon will now head to the Shanghai Masters 1000 next week to gather the necessary points required to qualify.

With the win, Youzhny sets up a quarterfinal showdown with defending champ Tomas Berdych.

The hard serving Czech breezed into the final eight with a straight set win over Andreas Beck, 6-1, 6-4.

Berdych struck 15 aces and won 83 percent of his first serve points during the one hour and 23 minute match. 

Berdych's comprehensive win was his 32nd of the season and he will now look forward to evening his head-to-head record against Youzhny which he trails 5-4. 

Elsewhere, top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga scrambled to avoid defeat against countryman Richard Gasquet, fighting off a one set deficit and a break of serve to advance to the quarterfinals, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Tsonga hit 12 aces and won 73 percent of his first serve during the one hour and 39 minute encounter. The Le Mons native centered his comeback attempt around his ground game and not his renowned serve.

After dropping the first set, Tsonga began to use his brilliant inside-out forehand to great success. Although the well struck shot was hit into backhand corner of Gasquet, Tsonga's focus was to open up the court and approach the net. 

Tsonga commented on the windy conditions in during the contest in his post match presser. 

"The conditions were very tough today," said Tsonga. "I don't like to play in the wind."

"Richard plays well in the wind because he was born in the south of France and it is always windy there," assessed Tsonga.

With the win, Tsonga advanced to his 10th quarterfinal appearance at the ATP World Tour level, while picking up his 45th win of the season.

The No. 2 seed will now meet unseeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who defeated Juan Monaco 6-3, 4-1 after the Argentine had to retire with a right hip injury. 

Gulbis achieved back-to-back wins for the first time this season, improving his record to 18-22.

Gulbis contested a closely fought three set loss to Tsonga last week in Bangkok and will take a 2-0 deficit into Friday's encounter. 

Australian Lleyton Hewitt progressed to his seventh quarterfinal of the season, recovering from a one set deficit to defeat Fabrice Santoro 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

The soon-to-be retiring Frenchman began strong in the first set, breaking serve on two occasions while striking four aces and winning 93 percent of his first serve points.

However, Hewitt's counter-attacking style took over in the second and third sets on the strength of five breaks of serve and six aces. 

Hewitt's victory pushed his head-to-head lead over the Frenchman to 3-2. It was also the first time since 2004 that the veterans had faced off. 

“I didn’t play badly in the first set,” said Hewitt. 

“I had some opportunities but couldn’t convert. He served very well. The closed roof helped him a little bit. I don’t mind playing with the wind. He is a fierce competitor. He gives 100 per cent on every point and his different style of game doesn’t give you much rhythm.”

Hewitt will now head to the final eight where he will face Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

The Frenchman, who is participating in Japan this week via qualification, defeated his second quality opponent in as many rounds, ousting Jurgen Melzer 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Roger-Vasselin used his French flair to pound 15 aces and win 77 percent of his first serve points. 

The No. 189th ranked Frenchman advanced to the first quarterfinal of his career after defeating his Austrian opponent in one hour and 49 minutes. 

Prior to his success in Japan, Roger-Vasselin had never won a tour level match; never defeating a top 50 player.

Roger-Vasselin will look to add Hewitt's name to the impressive list of scalps he has defeated this week, which includes reigning US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro. 

Friday's remaining quarterfinal match up will see Gael Monfils vs. Stanislas Wawrinka. 

Wawrinka leads the pair's head-to-head 1-0.

Please check back on Friday for a complete quarterfinal recap from Beijing, China, and Tokyo, Japan.