Nadal does it the hard way again
PARIS (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.
Before contemplating that he must beat defending Paris Masters champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the world number nine, for a place in the last four.
Tsonga stayed in contention for a berth at the World Tour Finals in London by downing fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-2 6-3. Continued...
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