But fellow Argentines Gaston Gaudio and the indefatigable Guillermo Coria won in straight sets as did Russian Marat Safin
Top seed Rainer Schuettler beat Swede Robin Soderling 6-4, 7-6 in the first round of the Munich Open.
World number two Roger Federer said he would never again feel any pressure in his career after clinching his first French Open title with a 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 victory over Swede Robin Soderling in Sunday's final. 'It might be the greatest victory of my career,' said the 27-year-old Swiss, who equalled Pete Sampras's record of 14 Grand Slam titles and became the sixth man to win all four majors.
World number two Roger Federer kept his dream of a maiden French Open title alive when he battled past Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in a nail-biting semi-final on Friday. The Swiss, playing in his 20th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, was one set from defeat when he turned on the style to set up a final with Swede Robin Soderling.
French Open runner-up Robin Soderling survived a second-set fightback from Juan Ignacio Chela to defeat the Argentine 7-5, 7-5 in the second round of the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.
Top seed Juan Martin del Potro will play sixth seeded American Sam Querrey in the Auckland Open final after both advanced to the title match in contrasting style on Friday.
Both scored straight-set victories in Friday's semi-finals.
Robin Soderling is sick of being the answer to a favourite quiz question, the one which asks who is the only player to beat nine-times champion Rafael Nadal at the French Open.
Top seed Robin Soderling has a tricky first match as the opening round at the 2010 Aircel Chennai Open, has some interesting matches lined up when the tournament begins on Monday.
Here is a quick glance of all the highs and lows from Nadal's stupendous career:
Roger Federer began his latest bid for a first title of the year with a confident 6-1 7-5 win over Robin Soderling Tuesday, while Andy Murray came through a much stiffer test against Italian Simone Bolelli 7-6 6-4.
Nine-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open on Friday because of a wrist injury.
Third seed Andy Murray was outclassed on his least favourite surface by Chile's Fernando Gonzalez on Tuesday, losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 in the French Open quarter-finals.
Top seed Andy Roddick beat fellow American Robby Ginepri 7-6, 7-6 and reach the Lyon Grand Prix quarter-finals.
He was all smiles on Sunday but there were times earlier this year when Rafael Nadal's uncle and coach Toni feared his nephew was struggling to recover from the darkest period of his career.
They beat the Soderling and Kohlschreiber 6-7, 7-6, 10-7 at the Gerry Webber Open tennis tournament.
Holder Roger Federer coasted to a 6-3 6-2 win over Robin Soderling at the Hamburg Masters on Thursday before second seed Rafael Nadal gave Andy Murray a claycourt lesson for his 21st birthday. Federer was barely made to sweat by the Swede and Nadal joined him in the quarter-finals of the 2.27 million euro (1.8 million pound) tournament by beating the 15th seed Murray by the same 6-3 6-2 scoreline.
Novak Djokovic beat defending champion Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to move into the semi-finals of the French Open, in the process spoiling the Spaniard's 29th birthday celebrations.
It was only his second defeat in 11 years and 72 matches at Roland Garros, yet it came as little surprise for Rafael Nadal as the nine-time champion admitted he had his French Open quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic coming.
"But tomorrow is a new day and I have to move on. It's only the quarter-finals, and I want to fight for the title. That's what I came here for. I have to kind of direct my thoughts to the semis."
Factbox on Rafael Nadal, who beat Dominic Thiem to win his 12th French Open title:
Factbox on Rafael Nadal, who beat Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 on Sunday to win a record-extending 13th French Open title:
Rafael Nadal is the oldest title winner in the history of the clay-court tournament.
Factbox on Rafael Nadal, who beat Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to win his 11th French Open title on Sunday:
Here is a factual guide on the man of the moment...
Factbox on Rafael Nadal's French Open final wins
Edmund, playing in his first Grand Glam quarter-final, showed no nerves as he blazed away with his fearsome forehand to subdue a nervy Dimitrov.
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