Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal prevailed in consecutive sets despite committing falters against Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin in their U.S. Open match.

Nadal, the world’s top-seeded player was able to complete the game after an exhausting tiebreaker against the 23-year-old Istomin, who is supported by the crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was the second time in as many rounds for Nadal to advance through his effort and determination. He defeated Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in the first round, and he needed at least 3 hours to win the match in consecutive sets. In the second round, Istomin came up prepared for the match on a surprising rain-free evening in the Flushing Meadows, but Nadal defeated him in consecutive sets as well.

Istomia, the Uzbekistan tennis player holds his highest-ranking career in the world at number 39 has reached the final at the Pilot Pen in New York Haven before the U.S. Open. He was able to stun the fans even if he was not the crowd’s favorite.

However, the fans who attended the evening match immediately acknowledge him as he battled the top-seeded Nadal. The fans started to make noise in the second set tiebreaker, which turn into a breath-taking match up.

Nevertheless, the top-seed player in the world, Nadal, was able to control the tempo and proved the crowd why he deserved to be the top-seed. The victory he gained on Friday has proven his skills on playing a composure game in a tight match unlike other top-seed players who are often outplayed by their opponents mostly in the early rounds of a tournament.

This is a special victory for Nadal because it came in a test or two in one tournament and not just is the Open that the top-seed player has never won a Grand Slam, it is also the only one that he never advanced to the final.