Rafael Nadal survives scare to reach Paris semi-finals

Updated 06/11/2020 at 21:55 GMT

Rafael Nadal's quest for a first-ever Paris Masters continued with a three-set win over his fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta. He will play either Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals at the Bercy, with Milos Raonic taking on Daniil Medvedev in the other last-four clash.

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta during their men's singles quarter-final tennis match on day 5 at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 - Paris Masters (Paris Bercy) - indoor tennis tournament at The AccorHotels Arena in Par

Image credit: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal was forced to come from a set down to defeat fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 to reach the Paris Masters semi-finals.

Nadal was on the back foot for much of the first set, winning just five points on his compatriot's serve and digging deep on his own serve before eventually succumbing to the pressure and losing it 6-4.

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The French Open champion almost made the worst possible start to the second set, saving three break points in the first game before sealing it at the death, coming back from 15-40 down on Carreno-Busta's serve in the final game to win it 7-5.

The decider was far more comfortable for the 34-year-old, as he rattled off the last five games to seal it 6-1.

Nadal will take on Alexander Zverev, who defeated Stan Wawrinka in straight sets. The German and his Swiss opponent exchanged breaks early on before the US Open finalist pulled away by winning the final three games to take it 6-3.

Wawrinka will be frustrated with his efforts in the second set, having broken to go ahead but, when serving for it at 5-4, could not do so. Zverev dominated the subsequent tiebreaker, cruising out 7-1 to seal his spot in the last four.

In the other half of the draw, Daniil Medvedev cruised past sixth seed Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-1 and Milos Raonic was forced to dig deep to beat home hope Ugo Humbert 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(7), saving two match points in the final-set breaker.

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