Rafael Nadal continued his bid for an 11th French Open title on Saturday by brushing aside home favourite Richard Gasquet to claim a 16th consecutive win over his childhood friend and reach the fourth round.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion has still never lost to his old junior rival at Tour level, after easing to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The world number one’s record at Roland Garros now stands at 82 wins and just two losses.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion eased to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Chatrier to reach his 40th last-16 at a Slam.
He also took his run of consecutive completed sets at the French Open to 34, just seven shy of the record held by Bjorn Borg between 1979 and 1981.
Nadal, who lost only two points in the first five games, will next play Germany’s world number 70 Maximilian Marterer.
Nadal played down thoughts that he is unbeatable on clay – Austrian Dominic Thiem is the only player to win against him on the surface this year in Madrid.
“What I know is I go to the court, and I know that I can win, I can lose. I don’t come here saying, ‘You can’t win against me’.”
Nadal, who lost only two points in the first five games, will next play Germany’s world number 70 Maximilian Marterer, who beat Estonian lucky loser Jurgen Zopp.
Italy’s Fabio Fognini made the last 16 for the second time with a 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain’s last man standing Kyle Edmund.
Fognini joins compatriot Marco Cecchinato in the fourth round, the first time that more than one Italian has made the last 16 since 1976.
Karen Khachanov inflicted more French woe by completing a rain-interrupted win over Lucas Pouille on Philippe Chatrier. The 22-year-old will next face a familiar foe in German second seed Alexander Zverev.
“I think we know each other since we were 14,” said the Russian. “Also we are good outside the court, with his parents, they know me also and I know them well. He’s a nice guy and, yeah, that’s what I can say.”
In another rain-affected game, Belgian David Goffin (8th seed) saved four match points to defeat Frenchman Monfils in a thriller, 6-7(6) 6-3 4-6 7-5 6-3.
Argentinian fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro reached the fourth round for the first time in six years by seeing off Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-5, 6-4, 6-1 to set up a last-16 tie with either American John Isner or Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the only remaining Frenchman in the draw.
In an entertaining three-setter later in the day, ninth seed John Isner defeated Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(4).
Men’s singles : Third round
Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x27) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
Maximilian Marterer (GER) bt Jurgen Zopp (EST) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4
Diego Schwartzman (ARG x11) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 7-5, 6-3, 6-3
Kevin Anderson (RSA x6) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4)
Marin Cilic (CRO x3) bt Steve Johnson (USA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
Fabio Fognini (ITA x18) bt Kyle Edmund (GBR x16) 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Juan Martín Del Potro (ARG x5) bt Albert Ramos (ESP x31) 7-5, 6-4, 6-1
David Goffin (BEL x8) bt Gael Monfils (FRA x32) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
Karen Khachanov (RUS) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA x15) 6-3, 7-5, 6-3
John Isner (USA x9) bt Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) 7-6(1), 6-4, 7-6(4)
Men’s singles round of 16 line-up
With AFP inputs
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