Miami  - Desperate Rafael Nadal saved two of three match points with aces but couldn't hold off the momentum of hard-charging Argentine Juan Del Potro, taking a 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3) defeat Thursday in the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters.

The three-hour epic handed Del Potro his first victory over Spain's number 1 after three previous defeats. The youngster had not won a single set in the series before stepping onto court in front of an overwhelmingly Latin crowd in South Florida.

Shanghai - Juan Del Potro didn't allow his mind to stray to the upcoming Davis Cup final as he handed Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) Gold group defeat at the Masters Cup on Tuesday.

The clash between the pair of 2008 breakthrough rookies at the season-ending championships gave the Argentine a 1-1 record and saddled Australian Open finalist Tsonga from France with two defeats from as many matches.

"I'm in the Masters Cup, I want to be alive until the finals, if I can," Del Potro said.

Shanghai - Juan Del Potro kept his hopes alive for an extended stay at the Masters Cup, winning a battle of first-time players 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Tuesday.

The Gold group clash between year-end rookies gave the Argentine a 1-1 record and saddled Australian Open finalist Tsonga from France with two defeats from as many matches.

"I'm in the Masters Cup, I want to be alive until the finals, if I can," he said.