Paris – top notch Rafael Nadal A Maya oatmeal at the Paris Masters remained on course for the first title after the beating Jordan Thomson 6-1, 7-6 (3) to reach the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Nadal has won 86 career titles, including 35 in 35 Masters programs, but lost his only final at the Paris Indoor Arena 13 years ago.
Thomson found his limit in the second set, hitting several big winners down the line and forcing a set point with Nadal to lead 6-5. After a good second serve, Nadal saved it after a long rally.
“He played well, so I commend him. He started to change direction with the service very well, hitting the right places,” Nadal said. “Then he’s very fast from the baseline, returning some very difficult balls.”
Thomson threw his racket to the ground in frustration after losing the next point, and Nadal’s sharp backhand volley took it into a tiebreaker.
The undefeated Australian saved a match point with the third tuck of his tiebreaker, but the next time Nadal pushed his opponent to the back of the court and Thomson’s front was trapped.
20-time Grand Slam champion Nadal became the fourth man to win 1,000 matches on Wednesday, with his next match against Spain. Pablo Carino Busta.
“He is always improving. He is playing in the semifinals again in New York this year [at the US Open] And the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, “Nadal said.” He is playing well. “
However, Nadal has a 6-0 lead in his meetings, having beaten him twice earlier this year.
First, ranked third Daniel Medvedev He beat Blip in the first set where he scored 11 straight points before beating 16th seed Alex de Minor 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
The strong-performing Russian finished 13th place and the next play No. 6 Diego Schwartzman, French Open semifinalist who beat the qualifier Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-1, 6-1 to take a step closer to the ATP Finals, ending the season for the first time.
“Diego is playing great right now,” Medvedev said. “His results are incredible.”
Schwartzman will qualify for the tournament in London on November 15-22 if he beats Medvedev.
In the second and third round matches, 2014 runners-up Milos Raonic Moved on after beating the American qualifiers Marcos Giron 7-6 (1), 6-2. The 10th-ranked Canadian had 15 axes and did not face a break point.
His next encounter is with seedless French Yugo Humbert, Who defeated the former US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to continue his strong form.
Humbert knocked out in the semifinals of the French Open Stefanos Sisispas In the second round and at the European Open in Antwerp, Belgium, two weeks ago, he won his second title of the year.
Carino Busta, who is challenging Swartzmann for a place in London’s ਓ 2 arena, won 7-5, 6-2 against Un-Seed Norbert Gombos.
Later Thursday, No. 4 Alexander Zverev Played Adrian Mannarino And number 12 Stan Wawrinka No. 5 faced Andrei Rublev.
