After losing the third set, it was a relieved Nadal who was able to hit the match ball and avoid a power-hungry fifth set.
- It has been a special week for me.
Every time I can play here, it's special to me.
I played against a good opponent and good friend on the tour.
It was my best match after the comeback, says Nadal according to the BBC.
The 35-year-old made a comeback in December after having problems with a foot injury for six months, problems that lasted much longer than that.
- It works at the moment.
I've been through tough periods for the past 1.5 years, but nights like this mean everything to me, says Nadal, seeded sixth in the tournament.