Greg Rusedski booked a place in the Liverpool International semi-finals with a 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4) win over youngster Lukas Lacko at Calderstones Park.
The 33-year-old, who is playing the final tournament of his career, did not have it all his own way against the 20-year-old Slovakian.
As against qualifier Chris Llewellyn in Rusedski's opening match, he had to show real persistence to take victory on a court that has been battered by heavy rain for two days.
He said: ''It wasn't easy for either one of us out there in difficult conditions but we both coped pretty well and played some reasonable tennis.
''It's not always easy when you have so much rain on a grass court and they did a good job handling it. These young guys are coming up on me now and I'm the old veteran.
''I'm just trying to enjoy it. I'm a little bit stiff in my neck and shoulder and I'll be seeing the chiropractor so hopefully that will loosen up and I'll feel better for tomorrow.''
Serving first, Rusedski, who faces Vince Spadea in his final group match before the semi-finals, meant business, with two aces in the opening game but Lacko refused to buckle and the next three games all went with serve.
Rusedski was looking uncomfortable on the slippery surface and lost his third service game after misplacing a couple groundstrokes and hitting a double-fault.
Struggling at the baseline, he did not look like breaking back in Lacko's next couple of service games but, with the Slovakian leading 5-4, Rusedski made the most of a second break point to make it 5-5. It went to 6-6 before Rusedski secured the set in the tie-break.
The second set went with serve but Lacko had a set point before Rusedski's powerful delivery earned a second tie-break, which Rusedski duly won.
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