Exclusive HD Photos: Novak Djokovic battles to reach China Open quarterfinals (5)

BEIJING, Oct. 4 (People's Daily Online) -- Top-ranked Novak Djokovic overcame tough challenges from Fernando Verdasco by outlasting the Spaniard 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in a see-saw match to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open here on Thursday.

Djokovic, who had lost his last two matches against Verdasco back in 2010, won the first three games en route to taking the first set, but the Spaniard fought back in the second by breaking the world No. 1 Serb in the third and seventh games.

However, the top-ranked Djokovic regained his composure in the third set, breaking Verdasco at the first attempt to race to a 3-0 lead, before breaking him again in the final game.

The 26-year-old Serb will next face off against American Sam Querrey, who upset sixth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-3, 7-6 (2).

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