(Reuters) – Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal has defeated Guido Pella in straight sets to book his place in the third round of the French Open. He won 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in two hours and three minutes.
With rain showers forecast at Roland Garros the 31-year-old wasted no time on Court Suzanne Lenglen after saving four break points in the first game against the 78th-ranked Pella.
Once that early danger had been snuffed out Nadal offered up a masterclass against his fellow left-hander and his forehand was too hot for Pella to handle.
The Spanish world number one has now won his last 27 sets at Roland Garros, having captured a 10th title last year without dropping a set.
Rafa faces a tougher test in the next round with N0. 27 seed Richard Gasquet awaiting him on Saturday.
After the match, Rafa said:
I played such a good match today, I’m very happy with the way I played. Richard is a good friend, I’ve known him since we were 11, 12 years old. It’s the most important court of my career without a doubt, and for him a special place too.
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Photo by Dave Winter/Icon Sport
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Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by Dave Winter/Icon Sport
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
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Photo by XIN LI/Getty Images
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis
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Photo by Dave Winter/Icon Sport
Photo by Dave Winter/Icon Sport
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by XIN LI/Getty Images
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis
Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Photo by Dave Winter/Icon Sport
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Photo by XIN LI/Getty Images
Photo by XIN LI/Getty Images
Photo by XIN LI/Getty Images
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Source: Reuters
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Today’s early R3 winners:
Nishikori over Simon and
Verdasco over Dimitrov in 3
Djokovic over Bautista Agut in 4
Zverev over Dzumhur in 5
RAFA ROCKS
Thiem also won his R3 match.
Unseeded 25-year-old Marco Cecchinato[72] of Italy beat Spain’s Carreño Busta[11] in 4 sets to make it to R4. Except for the AO, he has played nothing but clay-court tournaments this year.
Goffin vs Monfils and Khachanov vs Pouille will finish their matches on Saturday.
Correction: Cecchinato has played nothing
Rafa I didn’t see the match but from all accounts you played very well.
Well done.
All the best for your next game against Richard Gasquet.
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Rafa excellent you play today vamosssssssssssssss champ this year is yours the 11 French Open is yours🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍🎾🎾👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🎾👍😍
Congrats Rafa! One more done. Best of luck for the next match. Taking one match at a time just like our champ. Vamos
Enhorabuena!!!!!!!!…hoy si Rafa…bien jugado…el ambiente mas seco….adelante Rafa por esa linea…SIEMPRE CONTIGO
Fantastic match, well played Rafa! Nice to see such good sportsmanship from both players as well, each correcting line calls to give the other the point.
That is our champion and likewise Pella. I do not see any other player giving points to the opponent.
Wamos Rafa, you are the best.
Good match today. All the best for the next round. Vamos Rafa <3
CONGRATZ to Rafa for his SS’s win to make it to R3.
Following are those who also made it to R3:
Fognini in 3
In 4 sets:
Anderson
Cilic
Fognini
DelPo and Schwartzman are still playing
Shapovalov is out – lost his R2 match
DelPotro and Schwartzman are on for R3.
Now that will be a cracker of a match! I’ll be rooting for Del Potro though.
Mac, my apologies for not being clearer in that post. It was a continuation of my previous post regarding players who made it to the third round.
DelPo will play Ramos-Viñolas and
Schwartzman will play Ćorić for their R3 matches.
RAFA IS ROCKIN
Excellent work from Rafa – in straight sets too.