Basel, Switzerland - Second seed David Nalbandian needed nearly two and a half hours to subdue qualifier Kristof Vliegen on Thursday, posting a 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4) win into the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors. The Belgian refused to fold against the world number eight who says he will skip the season-ending championships in China despite being on course to qualify for the eight-man field.
The Argentine is devoting full focus on the November 21-23 Davis Cup final in Mar del Plata, where the South American nation will attempt to come good after losing title challenges in 1981 and 2006.
Nalbandian lifted the Basel title in 2002 and is playing the indoor event for the seventh time in Roger Federer's hometown.
The Swiss top seed is set for a second-round contest later against Finn Jarkko Niemimen, a repeat of last year's final won by Federer in straight sets.
Nalbandian struck 11 aces, two short of Vliegen's total as the number 96 qualifier played out of his depth.
Nalbandian had a 3-1 lead in the third-set-tiebreaker, only to lose it; he was forced to close out victory on a final error from his opponent.
Nalbandian next plays another challenger from qualifying where he takes on Benjamin Becker in the quarters.
Becker is the last German remaining from six who began the week.
