Rafael Nadal has continued his 100% record against Richard Gasquet by beating the home favourite in straight sets in their quarter-final meeting at the Paris Masters.
The world number one had won all of his 13 previous matches against the Frenchman, who was immediately on the back foot when Nadal broke him in the third game of the opening set.
However, Gasquet won the next game to put the opener back on serve, before a double fault and a couple more unforced errors handed his Spanish opponent another break and a 4-3 lead.
On this occasion, though, Nadal was able to hold onto his advantage, claiming the first set 6-4 in 35 minutes before taking instant control of the second with a double break.
Gasquet ensured that he avoided a bagel defeat in the second set, but his winning of the fifth game proved only to delay the inevitable as Nadal got the better of him once more in a 6-4 6-1 victory.
Nadal will face either Tomas Berdych or David Ferrer in the semi-finals.
Joe Fish
