Rafael Nadal was made to battle in his opening match at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday as he beat Fabio Fognini in four sets.
The home favourite needed 90 minutes to complete the opening set, finally finishing off the Italian 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-4 on a second match point after being broken while serving for victory.
Nadal improved to 9-3 against Fognini and has now won 11 straight matches this season; he is fresh from 10th career clay titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion now faces Nick Kyrgios in the third round.
Controversial Australian Kyrgios cruised past American Ryan Harrison 6-3, 6-3.
Fifth seed Milos Raonic is also into the last 16 as he got the better of a battle between two big servers 6-4, 6-4 over Gilles Muller.
Raonic will play Belgium's David Goffin next.
Kei Nishikori recovered from a dreadful start to beat Argentine Diego Schwartzman 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.
Nishikori faces David Ferrer next, who progressed as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew with a shoulder injury.
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