Nadal forced to grind out victory in Paris once more

WHAT Rafael Nadal is currently lacking in talent, he is more than making up for in fighting spirit as he once again dug deep within himself to claw his way into the last eight of the BNP Paribas Paris Masters.

JUST ABOUT: World number two Rafael Nadal is again forced to dig deep in Paris (Getty Images)

For the second consecutive night in Paris, the world number two was pushed to his very limits by a fellow Spaniard.  This time it was Tommy Robredo who came within inches of victory.

But while Nadal is far from his best, he guarantees a whole-hearted performance whenever he steps onto court and he ground out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory.

Just like Nicolas Almagro, who wasted five match points against Nadal on Wednesday, Robredo had chances to win the match and was 5-4 to the good in the decider, serving for a place in the quarter finals against defending champion Jo-Wilfired Tsonga.

But Nadal stepped up a gear, roared back and left Robredo shell-shocked.

Nadal's recent visits to Paris have not been happy ones. He was dumped out the French Open, having had such an imperious record at Roland Garros, by Robin Soderling, before his injury problems kicked in.

Nadal almost became the third player of the top four in the world to be eliminated prior to the quarter-finals after world number one Roger Federer crashed out on Wednesday and Andy Murray just hours earlier than the Spaniard.

In truth, Nadal has not found his rhythm in Paris and while he bludgeoned his way to the first set, that was as much to do with Robredo's inaccuracy as Nadal's quality.

The second set did see Nadal raise his game but Robredo raced through the gears and, once he had secured the vital break, there was little danger he would throw his opportunity away and he duly served out the set.

The decider was fraught with nervousness and the seemingly vital break came in the ninth game of the set.

Uncharacteristically, Nadal handed it to Robredo on a plate with a double fault.

But just as Almagro had collapsed under the pressure, so did Robredo.  Nadal levelled proceedings at 5-5 before Nadal ruthlessly took the match from the grasp of his compatriot.