Top seed and 2005 champion Rafael Nadal survived a tricky encounter against American James Blake 7-5,6-7(4), 6-3 in a heavyweight second round clash at the China Open ATP tournament on Thursday. Coming up next for Nadal in the last eight will be wildcard and 2004 titlist Marat Safin from Russia, a 6-3, 6-4 victor over seventh seed Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball during the men's singles second round match against James Blake of the U.S. at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2009. Nadal won 2-1.

In the WTA tournament, Serena Williams, the world number one in waiting, crashed out to Nadia Petrova in the third round. The American, who will take the top ranking from Dinara Safina next week after the Russian lost early in Beijing, went down 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5).

Marat Safin of Russia returns a shot agaisnt Fernando Gonzalez of Chile during the men's singles second round match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2009. Safin won 2-0.

Petrova, the 13th seed from Russia, will play Peng Shuai in the last eight after the Chinese player defeated Maria Sharapova on Wednesday. In other third round women's matches, local player Zhang Shuai did not delight her home fans again, losing 6-1, 6-4 to Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, while Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva of Russia and 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland also advanced.

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