Nadal Comes From A Set Down To Win 1000th Match; Wawrinka v Rublev At Paris Indoors

Rafael Nadal added another milestone to his long list of accomplishments. In his Paris Masters opener today, the Spanish great came from a set down to defeat countryman Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to become the fourth player to reach the 1,000 win plateau.

“Means that I am old,” Nadal said of reach 1,000 wins. “That means that I played well for such a very long time, because to achieve that number is because I have been playing well for a lot of years and is something that makes me feel happy.

“I just can say thank you very much to all the people that helped me and all the people that in any moment of my life helped me to be where I am.”

Lopez served strong in the opening set but in the second Nadal found the range and edged out a breaker before cruising in the decider.

“I started the match in the worst way possible, especially against a big server like Feli,” said Nadal. “After that, I played under a lot of pressure the rest of the match, but I found a way. That’s the main thing.”

Nadal returns Thursday to take on Jordan Thompson who ousted Borna Coric in three sets.

Three-time Slam winner Stan Wawrinka also came from a set down and needed a second set breaker to deny Tommy Paul 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2.

Wawrinka now gets the red-hot Andrey Rublev in a mouth-water Thursday third round matchup.

“It’s going to be interesting match,” said Wawrinka. “Last time we play, he beat me in Cincinnati. He’s playing so well this year. He’s winning so many matches, so many tournaments. He’s full confidence. He’s one of the best players this year.

“So it’s going to be interesting to see my level against him. It’s going to be tough match, that’s for sure.”

Rublev won his 11th straight match rolling past Radu Albot.

Daniil Medvedev benefited from a Kevin Anderson retirement just before the first set breaker. Milos Raonic also advanced and Diego Schwartzman strengthened his ATP Finals bid with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet.

Alexander Zverev and Andrian Mannarino were also winners. They’ll meet tomorrow.

In addition on Wednesday, Medvedev will face Alex De Minaur, Marin Cilic takes on Ugo Humbert and Raonic gets Marcos Giron.

PLAYERS TO REACH 1000 CAREER ATP WINS
1,274 Jimmy Connors
1,242 Roger Federer
1,068 Ivan Lendl
1,000 Rafael Nadal