Nadal breezes past Gasquet in French Open as Spanish star enjoys his 35th birthday
Nadal celebrates birthday with victory; Zverev too wins
Paris, June 4: Rafael Nadal celebrated his 35th birthday in style with a straight sets win over Richard Gasquet on Thursday to reach the French Open third round.
Nadal, the 13-time champion in Paris and chasing a record-setting 21st Grand Slam title, won 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 to register his 17th career victory in 17 meetings with France’s 53rdranked Gasquet.
Next up for the world number three is Britain’s Cameron Norrie who he has beaten twice already this season, at the Australian Open and on clay in Barcelona.
German sixth seed Alexander Zverev eased into the French Open last 16 for the fourth successive year on Friday with a straight-sets win over Serbia’s Laslo Djere.
The 24-year-old, last year’s US Open runner-up, saw off the 55th-ranked Djere 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
He will next face former world number four Kei Nishikori, whose thirdround opponent Henri Laaksonen retired injured following the opening set, for a quarterfinal spot.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams continued her quest for a recordequalling 24th Grand Slam title by reaching the French Open second week for the first time since 2018, after third seed Aryna Sabalenka's surprise loss left the veteran American as the highestranked player in her half of the draw.
Three-time Roland Garros champion Williams came through a potentially tricky thirdround tie with compatriot Danielle Collins, winning 6-4, 6-4.
She will next face
Kazakh 21st seed Elena Rybakina, with a possible quarterfinal against old rival Victoria Azarenka up for grabs.
Also, former world number one Azarenka, who stunned Williams in their 23rd meeting in last year's US Open semi-finals, cruised past Madison Keys 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Roland Garros fourth round for the first time since making the last four in 2013.
Earlier, defending champion Iga Swiatek breezed
through to the third round, however, beating Rebecca Peterson 6-1, 6-1 on Court SimonneMathieu. The No. 8-seeded Pole next faces No. 30 Anett Kontaveit. — AFP
OTHER RESULTS
Men’s third round: Kei Nishikori (Japan) bt Henri Laaksonen (Switzerland) 75, 0-0 — RET; Federico Delbonis (Argentina) bt Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-4, 61, 6-3; Alexander Zverev (Germany) bt Laslo Djere (Serbia) 6-2, 7-5, 6-2;
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Spain) bt Casper Ruud (Norway) 7-6 (3), 2-6, 7-6 (6), 0-6, 7-5; Daniil Medvedev (Russia) bt Reilly Opelka (USA) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Women’s third round: Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan) bt Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-1, 6-4; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) bt Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 6-4, 2-6, 6-0; Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) bt Madison Keys (USA) 6-2, 62; Serena Williams (USA) bt Danielle Collins (USA) 6-4, 6-4.