Kick Off: Friday (06 November) 21:00 (GMT +1)
HD TV Link: Link 1, Link 2 Match Reviews:
Nadal got off to a flying start in Paris when he eased to the straight set 6-2, 6-2 victory against Lukas Rosol in the second round - in a rematch of their three-set thriller in Basel last week. However in his following match against big-serving Kevin Anderson, the Spaniard only narrowly escaped defeat, as he saved one match point before eventually triumphing 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2.
He is now on track to clash with fourth seed Stan Wawrinka for the second time in as many months. Wawrinka has enjoyed a slightly easier route into the Pairs quarterfinals, having not dropped a set yet. After he benefited from a bye in the opening round, he defeated Australian Bernard Tomic 6-3, 7-6 (6), before he recorded a similar score-line to overcome Viktor Troicki 6-4, 7-5.
It will mark the 16th meeting between the pair, with Nadal leading their head-to-head comfortably 13-2. However, ever since Wawrinka’s maiden victory at that memorable Australian Open final in 2014, the pair are equal at 1-1. Wawrinka triumphed earlier in the year in the Rome quarterfinals, while Nadal was successful most recently, dismissing Wawrinka in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in Shanghai, which also marked his first top five victory in 16 months.
Nadal has historically had more success in Paris than Wawrinka. He reached the final in 2007 and he has also reached the semi-finals during his last two appearances in 2009 and 2013. However, although this is just Wawrinka’s second appearance in the quarterfinals (and he has never reached the semi-finals) he has overall been a more consistent competitor in Paris, than Nadal. In fact the Swiss has played in the Paris Masters every year since his debut in 2005.
But Nadal has been enjoying somewhat of a late season resurgence late in the year and this could be a real test to see where he is at. He was brutal, conceding just three games in their most recent clash, but will he be able to back it up?
