RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

2018 US Open R4 Rafael Nadal bt. Nikoloz Basilashvili  6/3 6/3 6/7(6) 6/4

Next opponent - Dominic Thiem

“Two matches in a row, very tough ones,” said Nadal on court after the win.

“He was hitting the ball very strong. Seems like I was not in control of the point even when I was hitting good shots,” he added.  

Rafa about Thiem:

"It is a different kind of match than on clay. But it is still a tennis match. It is a different thing, but in some way, I know how he plays. He knows how I am playing. It is going to be an interesting one, tough one, hopefully for both of us."

"He's a fantastic player. He's a very powerful player. He's a great guy. Very good relationship with him. Happy for him that he's in quarter-finals here. Last year he lost a very tough match against Del Potro here... It is going to be a tough one." 

"He is a very powerful player and he knows how to play these kind of matches. I need to play my best match of the tournament if I want to keep having chances to stay in the tournament."

Photos: Getty Images; EPA; AFP; Anadolu Agency

• Highlights

• Press conference

• Interview at the Eurosport studio (in Spanish)