Defending champion Rafael Nadal celebrated his birthday in style by beating Richard Gasquet 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 in the second round of the French Open on Thursday. Rafa’s straight-sets victory took his record against Gasquet at tour level to 17-0. Our champ is now 16-2 on clay this season and is on a 32-match winning streak on Paris’ terre battue.
“The important thing is winning the matches. If it’s in straight sets it’s better,” said Rafa.
“I don’t complain at all, the main thing is to feel myself playing well.”
“I think that I played an amazing first set. A great one and I don’t feel that Richard was playing that badly in the first set to have that score. I didn’t miss balls and I was hitting the right spots all of the time.
“Then, the second was a little bit different. I had a set point at 5-2 and I think that I didn’t play a good game with my serve. I suffered against a great player like Richard, but was happy to win that set. After that, I was a little bit more under control.”
Rafa will next meet Cameron Norrie, who came from a set down to beat South Africa’s Lloyd Harris.
Congratulations Rafa well don in your Birthday happy birthday all the best you play so good today vamosssssss champ we love you 😍 ❤️👍💪🎾🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂❤️
Where’s Rafa’s beautiful wife, Maria?
I’m not sure he has physical contact with her. He said he saw her on the grounds but that he is in the bubble.
That makes sense. Safety first for all involved. Thanks Margo.🙏
You’re welcome Mimi.
Yes very sad that she wasn’t sitting with the family in his box. Wishing very much to see her at the Norrie match and the next four after that.
Yes and yes Pauline!👍
From what I understood about previous articles when she was mentioned, Mery has working appointments in England and possibly France because of Rafa’s foundation. A lot of work.
She could have gone off shopping or visiting friends because of the Virus situation in Spain. She’s so independent and that has worked for their [possibly] 20-year relationship. We, as fans, hardly get to see him so when he’s on tour I know I can’t get enough of him.
Congratulations on your victory on a humid night. Good to get it done in 3 to conserve energy, Night matches are too late and unfair to players whose body clocks are out of sync.
I hope that Rafa has a nice evening with his family.
What a great champion. Rafa is the best.
🥰Happy your family was present to share the victory. What a first set😃 Happy Birthday🎂
I wish you the very best, Rafael!!!!!
Yay Rafa! Birthday boyeeee! So happy to see you
healthy and kicken ass!!
I thought they might bring a cake on! I’m sure they do usually. Maybe it’s not Covid-secure 🙁 . A bit of a lapse in the 2nd set, but generally a good performance. 9pm is very late to start a night session, though. It was half 11 by the time it finished, and that was with a straight sets win including one 6-0 set. I know it happens with the US Open final and with the 2nd night session match of the Australian Open too, but three “wrongs” don’t make a right! At some point, a match will be finishing at 2 o’clock in the morning, and it’s going to put the winner at a disadvantage for the next round.
One more candle lit. and more step towards a goal. See….. you can win at 35!!!! Many more times ,I think! Good grip on the nerves in the second set.. Thirty five loks good on you!!😃
Congratulations Rafa another great win. Now go and enjoy the rest of your birthday with your beautiful family. You made us all so happy x
Congratulations Rafa for a quick and painless straight-sets win. Ouch, a bagel.
Five more to go. Best of luck against Norrie.
RAFA THE ROLAND-GARROS TERMINATOR
Well done Rafa!! 👍🏻👏🏻💪🏻🙌🏻👌🏻.
And once more, Happy Birthday 😀. You have had great gifts today: your Family and the Victory 🙏🏻😌.
Keep shining, keep joining family, and recover well ‘King of Clay’ 👑❤️
Grande Rafa!!!! desde Peru te deseo muchos exitos y que estes unos 4 años mas minimo, no hay quien te pueda sustituir en el circuito, cuando no estes el tennis habra terminado para mi, salvo tengas a un discipulo en la academia que tenga el mismo impetu y ganas de luchar y ganar.
Estoy seguro que te llevas el RG…. VAMOS CON TODO!!
Amazing first set👏 So happy for you. Enjoy the win and habe a happy dinner with your family.
Vamos Rafa❤️
Congratulations Rafa, another straight sets victory!👏
Hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your birthday with your family and team.🥰
Good luck in the next round against C. Norrie.🍀💪❤️
Happy birthday, Rafa! Congratulations on another great victory! Get some rest and sock it to ’em in the next round. Lots of love sent your way. 😊
Mimi, Diego is hanging tough. He’s into the third round too. Now that Barty is out due to injury your girl Iga may have a chance😉
Both Rafa and Iga served a bagel in their first set against an opponent. 🏸💪🎾
Margo,
Yes 👍 Diego!
Rafa and Iga🍀🤞
Both Rafa and Iga did it on their BD👏👏 What a coincidence!!