WORLD number one, Rafa Nadal turned the tables in a dramatic second-set tiebreaker on his way to a 6-2, 7-6, 7-5 victory over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan to reach the third round of the US Open.

Top-seeded Nadal trailed 5-1 in the second-set decider after a spectacular point by the 39th-ranked Istomin, who left a long skid mark and finished with his legs split after a dash to hit a winner off a delicate drop shot from the Spaniard.

After joining the roaring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd in applauding Istomin's efforts, Nadal claimed the next six points to win the tiebreaker and then broke serve in the last game of the match to keep on track for the only grand slam title to elude him.