PHOTOS/VIDEO: 2017 Paris Masters R3 Rafael Nadal vs. Pablo Cuevas

2017 Paris Masters R3 Rafael Nadal bt. Pablo Cuevas  6/3 6/7(5) 6

Next opponent - Filip Krajinovic

Rafael Nadal reached the Paris Masters quarter-finals on Thursday.

Nadal is looking for his 1st title on the Bercy hard courts.

"It was a very difficult match, Pablo is a very good player," Nadal said in his on-court interview.

"It's always hard playing someone for the first time, but I will do my best (against Krajinovic)."

Nadal called the trainer to have his knee taped before the third set and returned to the court reinvigorated, breaking serve in the second game with a fierce backhand down the line.

"You don't expect to win easy in big tournaments like these ones," said Nadal, who had his right knee strapped after the second set. "It's normal that at the end of the season after all the things that happened... All the matches I played with high intensity, it's normal that there are body issues a little bit. So it's nothing strange. Something that's completely normal and accepted."

"It's not the moment to talk much about the knee," he said.

"Anything can happen in one week and a half," Nadal said. "But if nothing strange happens then I'm going to be in London."

AFP

Photos: FFT; Getty Images; EFE; REUTERS; AP