UPDATE 3-Tennis-Nadal does it the hard way again

* Nadal struggles to overcome fellow Spaniard Robredo

* World number two faces Tsonga for place in last four (recasts after Nadal win)

By Patrick Vignal

PARIS, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal kept winning the hard way at the Paris Masters on Thursday, edging past fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-3 3-6 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals.

Nadal, who saved five match points before taming Nicolas Almagro in another all-Spanish battle on Wednesday, needed two hours and 20 minutes to shrug off a brave challenge from Robredo, seeded 14th in the indoor event.

Robredo had his chances, serving for the match in the third set, leading 5-4, after Nadal dropped serve with a double fault.

Nadal then lived up to his reputation as a fierce competitor, breaking back immediately and capturing Robredo's serve again two games later to seal victory.

The first match point was wasted by Nadal but on the second Robredo hit a forehand wide to bow out.

Roger Federer's second-round exit in the French capital on Wednesday means Nadal stands an outside chance of finishing the year as world number one.