Paris (AFP)
Rafael Nadal, world No. 2, overcame with more difficulty than expected the obstacle Jordan Thompson (61st) 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), Wednesday in the round of 16 of the Masters 1000 in Paris.
The Spaniard will face his compatriot Pablo Carreno (15th) on Friday, winner of Slovak Norbert Gombos (105th) 7-5, 6-2, for a place in the last four.
Against Thompson, Nadal swallowed the first set in 32 minutes, but it took him the double to overcome resistance from the Australian, whom he had never faced, in the second set.
Nadal saved a set point on his serve for Thompson at 6-5, but the players reached the tie break without giving up their throw-in.
And it was the Spaniard who concluded the round and therefore the match.
Last year, Nadal, who never won the Masters 1000 in Paris, forfeited before his semi-final.
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