Rafael Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Masters with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Stan Wawrinka on Thursday evening. Nadal fought off the only two break points he faced while getting the job done in one hour and 27 minutes.
“My serve worked well and the volley, too,” the second-ranked Spaniard assessed. “I have been going to the net a couple of times, serve and volley. I think I have been focussed and tried to hold the serve during the whole time.
“I think my game worked well. On the return today (it) was a little bit difficult. I think I didn’t return as well as I was doing previous days…. But it’s true that Stan always has a good serve and (it) is difficult to read. So (it) was an important victory for me, honestly, against a tough opponent again.”
Both Nadal and Novak Djokovic will run into tough opponents in the quarterfinals on Friday. Next up for Nadal is 2008 Paris Masters champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, while Djokovic faces familiar foe Stefanos Tsitsipas (the Greek leads the head-to-head series 2-1). The top-ranked Serb booked his spot in the last eight by getting the best of Kyle Edmund 7-6(7), 6-1.
It will be a big Friday for the French fans, and not simply thanks to Tsonga vs. Nadal showdown. Gael Monfils is one win away from a place in the Nitto ATP Finals and will clinch a second trip to London if he defeats Denis Shapovalov. Monfils overcame Radu Albot in three sets after Shapovalov also required three sets in an upset of Alexander Zverev.
The other quarterfinal pits Grigor Dimitrov against Christian Garin.
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will Monfils do it?
He should beat Shapo
Hope so!
The French play well in Bercy.
My picks: Monfils in 3, Nadal in 3, Tsitsi in 3 and Dimi in 2. Bring your popcorn, everyone!!