Timo Boll battled back to reach the last eight in the Czech Republic ©Getty Images

German top seed Timo Boll battled back from 3-1 down to progress to the quarter-finals at the International Table Tennis Federation Czech Open.

Boll appeared to be on the verge of exiting the World Tour competition as China's Fei Xu took charge of the last-16 clash at the OMEGA Sport Center in Olomouc.

He dug deep, though, and came through 12-14, 11-2, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7.

The second seed did not have an easy day either as Japan's Kenta Matsudaira was knocked out.

He was defeated by Brazil's Hugo Calderano who emerged as a 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 5-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-7 winner.

Fourth seed Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan won a six set clash with his compatriot Maharu Yoshimura.

Harimoto triumphed 11-8, 11-3, 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8.

Kasumi Ishikawa's match went the distance before she progressed ©Getty Images
Kasumi Ishikawa's match went the distance before she progressed ©Getty Images

In the women's tournament, the top seed endured a similar day to Boll with Kasumi Ishikawa's match also going the distance.

The Japanese player, a double Olympic medallist and the world champion in mixed doubles this year, won a topsy-turvy contest with Sweden's Matilda Ekholm 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 11-7.

Germany's second seed Han Ying enjoyed more comfortable passage as she eased past Austria's Sofia Polcanova 11-2, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9.

Third seed Mima Ito, another Japanese, ousted Ruochen Gu of China, 11-4, 15-13, 11-9, 11-13, 12-10.