Nadal takes a step closer to matching Federer’s major haul
PARIS: The 12-time champion Rafael Nadal looked in ominous form as he stepped up his pursuit of Roger Federer’s 20 major titles with a crushing win over 236th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the French Open.
The Spaniard batted aside McDonald 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 and will meet Stefano Travaglia of Italy for a spot in the last 16.
“Today was not that cold, so that’s the main thing. Not that cold, the conditions are not that bad,” said Nadal, who has described the defence of his title at a tournament postponed four months by the coronavirus pandemic as his toughest yet.
“When you win like today it’s not bad, it means you don’t make many mistakes and manage to make a difference,” he added.
The 34-year-old needs one more major to pull level with long-time rival Federer and owns an astonishing 95-2 record in Paris going back to his triumph on debut in 2005.
Women’s favourite and 2018 champion Simona Halep beat compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-4 to extend her career-best winning streak to 16 matches.
However, the top seed’s next opponent is American 25th seed Amanda Anisimova, the teenager who dumped Halep out in straight sets in last year’s quarter-finals.
“I remember the match from last year, I remember also that I didn’t play what I wanted, so I will do some changes and I will just try to play better and to take my chance,” said Halep.
US Open champion Dominic Thiem swept into the third round with a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory over American qualifier Jack Sock, saving three set points to close out the match.
The Austrian third seed will play Norway’s Casper Ruud for a place in the last 16.
“I’m very happy with my game in the first two rounds. It was not an easy draw at all and I’m very happy not to drop a set,” said Thiem, who defeated 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic in round one.
Sixth seed Alexander Zverev was taken the distance by home hope Pierre- Hugues Herbert but advanced 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4.
Victoria Azarenka’s unhappy French Open campaign ended on Wednesday as the former world number one was beaten 6-2, 6-2 by Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the second round. The Belarussian 10th seed, who was criticised for moaning about the cold and damp conditions in her opening round win, capitulated in feeble fashion against her 161st-ranked opponent.