Defending champion Rafael Nadal survives opening match scare at Indian Wells

World number one Rafael Nadal was on the verge of defeat at the BNP Paribas Open 2014 Indian Wells second round but earned the crucial points just in time to defeat Czech veteran Radek Stepanek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 on Saturday night.

The defending champion was down triple break points in the sixth game. He managed to claim the crucial break to lead 6-5 and served out for the match in two hours and 24 minutes.

“It’s true that with love-40, I was very close to losing, to being out, but I think I did two good serves and then I played a great point,” said Nadal. “Tough one. Anything can happen, but in the end I played well. After that, I think I played better.

“I’m happy to be through, because the start of the match, even if I felt at the beginning I didn’t play that bad, it was very quick 4-1 [for Stepanek], and I felt I was not playing that bad.”

Nadal is a three-time champion in this event – winning the title in 2007, 2009 and 2013.

Up next for the Spaniard is Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine. It will be a rematch of the Rio Open final two weeks ago.