Andy Murray was forced to work hard for a three-set win over John Isner in the third round at the Shanghai Masters.
The world No 2 dropped the opening set in a tie-break, but gradually mastered the American's huge serve to close out a 6-7 6-4 6-4 victory in China.
Murray, who extended his perfect record against Isner to five wins, will face either Tomas Berdych or Gilles Simon in the quarter-finals.
Neither man could fashion a break during an evenly contested opening set and Murray muttered angrily to himself as he struggled to repel his opponent's booming serves.
But Isner also displayed guile along with his brutish power and a cleverly disguised drop shot gave him the edge in the tie-break before he captured the opening set.
Murray continued to chip away at Isner's serve in the second set with his persistent returning, although the Florida man often answered with another towering delivery.
Finally Murray made his mark at 4-4, displaying cat-like reactions to fire a forehand return past Isner's long reach and then claimed the all-important break with a precise backhand.
The Scot served out to level the match and was soon on the hunt for more breaks in the second, with Isner sending down yet more thundering serves to keep the Brit at bay after two double faults.
But the constant assault from Murray was taking its toll and he expertly lobbed his weary opponent before breaking again for a 4-3 lead.
Isner refused to depart without a fight and even claimed a break point in the concluding game, but his efforts were in vain as Murray conjured up two nerveless serves and then secured a testing victory.
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