Third seed Rafael Nadal moved to within one win of an Olympic medal shot after battling past Gilles Simon to reach the men’s singles quarter-finals. He was made to fight by his French opponent but he eventually ran out a 7-6(5), 6-3 victor in Rio de Janeiro. An emotional celebration after match point once again showed just how much this Olympics means to our champ.

After the match, Rafa said:

Always the winner of the first set gives you confidence. I started strong in the second—that was the difference. Gilles is a great player. Sometimes you don’t know whether to hit strong or less power to hit the rhythm. I think I did (that well).

The passion for what I am doing, the passion for the sport and the motivation to keep doing what I really like (is key). I like to compete in the world of tennis and I think we’re very lucky people to live the tennis tour and life we have. (via Tennis Now)

Rafa will face tomorrow either Brazil’s unseeded Thomaz Bellucci or Belgium’s 8th-seeded David Goffin.

Our champ will double up with Marc Lopez to face Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil on Court 3 later in the men’s doubles semifinals, before teaming with Garbine Muguruza against Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek in the mixed after that.

Rafa on playing doubles with Marc:

Next match for me is very important. We play for the chance to win a medal with one of my best friends so we gonna try our best. (via Tennis Now)

VAMOS RAFA!

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain lines up his water bottles during his match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand during the men’s singles third round match against Gilles Simon of France on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 10, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images South America)

Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns to France’s Gilles Simon during the men’s tennis competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain serves during a warm up session before his match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

El tenista español Rafael Nadal reacciona ante el tenista Gilles Simon de Francia hoy, jueves 11 de agosto de 2016, en el Centro Olímpico de Tenis en el marco de los Juegos Olímpicos Río 2016 en Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/FERNANDO BIZERRA JR

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain in action against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point during the men’s singles third round match against Gilles Simon of France on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Olympic Tennis Centre on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Aug. 10, 2016 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images South America)

Spain’s Rafael Nadal reacts after winning a point against France’s Gilles Simon during the men’s tennis competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Fans of Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain react near him after he won his match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain reacts during his match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain celebrates after winning match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain celebrates after winning match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain celebrates after winning match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his game against Gilles Simon of France during their men’s singles third round match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11 August 2016. (España, Brasil, Tenis, Francia) EFE/EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

2016 Rio Olympics – Tennis – Preliminary – Men’s Singles Third Round – Olympic Tennis Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 11/08/2016. Rafael Nadal (ESP) of Spain celebrates after winning match against Gilles Simon (FRA) of France. REUTERS/Toby Melville FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.

El tenista español Rafael Nadal celebra su victoria ante el tenista Gilles Simon de Francia hoy, jueves 11 de agosto de 2016, en el Centro Olímpico de Tenis en el marco de los Juegos Olímpicos Río 2016 en Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/FERNANDO BIZERRA JR

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning his game against Gilles Simon of France during their men’s singles third round match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11 August 2016. (España, Brasil, Tenis, Francia) EFE/EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

El tenista español Rafael Nadal firma pelotas que regala a los asistentes luego de vencer al tenista Gilles Simon de Francia hoy, jueves 11 de agosto de 2016, en el Centro Olímpico de Tenis en el marco de los Juegos Olímpicos Río 2016 en Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/FERNANDO BIZERRA JR