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Rafael Nadal became the fourth man to win 1,000 Tour-level matches on Wednesday by beating Feliciano López at the Paris Masters, while Diego Schwartzman and Alexander Zverev also reached the third round.
The 34-year-old, who won a record 13th French Open title in Paris at Roland Garros last month, followed Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Ivan Lendl to reach the 1,000 mark.
The Spaniard had to fight against fellow Spanish veteran López, 39, but did enough to win 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Nadal received a special presentation to celebrate his achievement after the match at a nearly empty Bercy Arena, and the event was played behind closed doors after France entered its second coronavirus lockdown last week.
“It has been a special moment. I know it’s a very special number, 1000, ”said the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
“Although it is not the same to celebrate something like this without an audience, I enjoyed it with the ATP, with the president of the French Federation, Guy Forget, supervisor and the ball boys.
“I enjoyed it and I can thank all of them for making this moment that little bit more special.”
The top seed, seeking his first Paris Masters title, will meet Jordan Thompson in the third round after the Australian defeated Croatian Borna Coric 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
With the trophy in Paris this week, Nadal would equal Novak Djokovic’s record of 36 Masters titles.
Schwartzman closes in the London spot
Earlier on Wednesday, Schwartzman of Argentina came within two wins of sealing a debut appearance at the ATP Tour Finals in London by beating Richard Gasquet.
The 28-year-old Schwartzman was too strong for France’s Gasquet, clinching a 7-5, 6-3 victory, and will face Spanish qualifier Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16.
Schwartzman will secure last place in the season-ending tournament by reaching the semi-finals in Paris, but would qualify even if he fails, provided neither Pablo Carreño Busta nor Milos Raonic win the title.
“I have it in my hands but I have to say that I am watching the other games,” said the sixth seed.
“I want to be there so I’m doing my best on the court.”
The Tour Finals begin on November 15.
After the game, Schwartzman wrote a message of support for Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, who underwent brain surgery on Wednesday, on an on-court camera.
“I love soccer, and he is Argentine, so in every place you go, everyone knows Argentina because of Maradona, and that’s why I put ‘Fuerza Diego’,” said Schwartzman.
US Open runner-up Zverev continued his excellent streak by beating Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2, 6-2 in less than an hour.
The fourth-seeded German, who won consecutive titles in Cologne last month, will face Adrian Mannarino in the third round.
Zverev, who has won three Masters titles in his career, broke twice in each set to extend his winning streak to nine games.
Anderson retires injured
Third seed Daniil Medvedev reached the round of 16 after Kevin Anderson withdrew injured from their match.
The Russian will then play Australian Alex de Miñaur, who beat Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 7-5, for the last eight places.
South African Anderson resigned when he lost 5-2 in a first-set tie-break, and the tournament’s medical service said the former Wimbledon and US Open runner-up suffered a thigh injury.
Medvedev, 24, has yet to reach an ATP final in 2020 after winning four titles and finishing runner-up five times last year.
Raonic kept his slim hopes alive in the Tour Finals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
The Canadian, who lost the 2014 Bercy final to Djokovic, will face American Marcos Girón, ranked 91st.
Russian Andrey Rublev, who is fit, did a short job in his second round tie against Moldova’s Radu Albot, winning 6-2, 6-1.
Rublev is the first player in 2020 to reach 40 wins.
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