Rafael Nadal’s pursuit of a 10th French Open title continued on Thursday with a comfortable second-round win.
The Spaniard – chasing his own version of ‘La Decima’ – saw off Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis on Philippe Chatrier 6-3 6-0 6-3.
The victory also represented Nadal’s 200th win in grand slam competition.
The main blot on Nadal’s copybook was a drop of serve in the third set, but for a man who has developed an unwanted knack of making early exits at major tournaments, he will surely just be glad to get through.
Nadal won more than 50 per cent of the points on Bagnis’ serve and 80 per cent of the break points he was given.
Next up for Nadal will be countryman Marcel Granollers or home favourite Nicolas Mahut.
Some like it hot. @RafaelNadal impresses with this hot shot. #RG16 https://t.co/CpmlPrjp8Q
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2016
Novak Djokovic was given a stern test by Steve Darcis but came through it to record his 50th win at the French Open and reach the third round.
The world number one is the seventh man to notch his half-century at Roland Garros and the only one not to have yet won the title.
Djokovic also becomes the third player in the Open era to reach 50 wins at all four grand slams, joining Serena Williams and Roger Federer.
He was made to work harder than might have been expected against qualifier Darcis, who famously beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2013, before coming through 7-5 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes.
Djokovic becomes 3rd player in the Open Era to record 50 wins at all 4 majors after Federer & Serena Williams. pic.twitter.com/kritOI0Gdk
— ITF (@ITF_Tennis) May 26, 2016
The Belgian, whose ranking has slipped to 161 because of injury, delighted the crowd with the variety in his game and drove Djokovic to distraction at times.
The Serbian made a flying start, winning the opening three games, but Darcis got back on level terms and came close to forcing a tie-break in the opener.
Djokovic never really appeared in danger of dropping a set but, unlike potential semi-final opponent Nadal, has yet to hit top form in Paris.
Defending champion Serena Williams goes into the third round of the French Open having lost just five games in two matches.
The world number one raced past Magdalena Rybarikova in round one in just 42 minutes.
She was detained a little longer by Brazil’s Teliana Pereira on Thursday but a 6-2 6-1 victory in 66 minutes was hardly a serious test.
There were questions about Williams’ form going in but so far she remains very much the favourite to lift the trophy for the fourth time.
Pereira, ranked 81, has never reached the third round at a slam and that never looked like changing, with Williams taking just 10 minutes to move into a 3-0 lead.
The American should have more of an examination next against either French 26th seed Kristina Mladenovic or Hungary’s Timea Babos.
