Federer and Nadal ease into French Open third round

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal eased into the French Open third round after each recorded straight sets victories in day four action.

Roger Federer, left, and Rafael Nadal Source: Getty Images / AAP

Nadal left German qualifier, Yannick Maden, no hope as he booked his ticket for the last 32 of Roland Garros in ruthless fashion with a 6-1 6-2 6-4 win.

The defending champion, chasing a record-extending 12th French Open title, powered through the first two sets before being slightly bothered in the third.

But the second seed from Spain, who looks to become the first player to win a grand slam title 12 times, stayed business like when Maden broke back for 4-4 and the contest ended when the world number 114 returned wide.

"He's a good player, he had won four matches - three in qualifications - going into this match, he had gained confidence," Nadal said.

His only two defeats in 90 matches at the French Open have occurred on the main Court Philippe Chatrier.

"For me it is an important victory, playing here in Paris, at Roland Garros, is always incredible," the 32-year-old said.

Nadal will take on Belgian David Goffin, for a place in the fourth round after the 27th seed eased past Miomir Kecmanovic 6-2 6-4 6-3.

Meanwhile, 37-year-old Federer - welcomed back to Roland Garros with open arms after missing the last three editions - was kept on his toes throughout the Court Philippe Chatrier contest, but raised his game when needed to prevail 6-4 6-3 6-4.

With perfect Swiss timing, he broke serve once in each set - in the 10th game of the first, the eighth game of the second and the ninth game of the third - to subdue the world number 144.

Just for good measure, Federer finished the one-hour 36-minute match off with a signature flourish on the Parisian clay, a glorious drop volley played with casual ease.

Third seed Federer, whose only French Open title came 10 years ago, has won his first six sets and with a favourable draw, he looks in the form to mount another challenge.

Next up for the 20-times grand slam champion is Norway's 63rd-ranked Casper Ruud.

It was not a good day for the Australians scheduled to play with Alex de Minaur (20) out-muscled in straight sets in under two hours against clay court specialist Pablo Carreno Busta, 6-3 6-1 6-1.

Earlier on day four, 19-year-old Alexei Popyrin lost to Serbian Laslo Djere in straight sets, 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in his second-round contest.

France’s Benoit Paire’s aggressive approach prevailed in the decider as he edged compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-2 6-2 5-7 6-7(6) 11-9 in 4 hours and 33 minutes.

Paire finished with 84 winners to 75 unforced errors as he reached the third round, where he will meet Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

Grigor Dimitrov defeated a determined Marin Cilic 6-7(3) 6-4 4-6 7-6(2) 6-3 in a marathon battle between the two former top 10 players that lasted four hours and 23 minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu.

Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka, chasing his first title since 2017, powered into the next round by defeating former Roland Garros junior champion Cristian Garin 6-1 6-4 6-0.

Frenchman Nicolas Mahut followed up his five-set first-round victory over eighth seed Marco Cecchinato with a superb 6-3 6-3 6-3 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber. The world number 252 fired 41 winners to blast past his German opponent.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, seeded seventh, shook off a slow start to topple local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 in a little over three hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Karolina Pliskova, a 2017 semi-finalist in Paris, wasted no time dispatching Slovakia’s Kristina Kucova winning 6-2 6-2 in 56 minutes. The hard-hitting Czech’s victory was punctuated by eight aces and 29 winners.

Stefanos Tsitsipas fought back from a set down to overcome Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien 4-6 6-0 6-3 7-5. The highly-rated Greek fired 42 winners to reach the third round at Roland Garros for the first time.

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza eased past Johanna Larsson with a 6-4 6-1 victory which included 16 winners. Her Swedish opponent had 24 unforced errors and three double faults to boot.

She next meets ninth seed Elina Svitolina who advanced after compatriot Kateryna Kozlova withdrew from their second-round match.

World number 20 Elise Mertens was at her clinical best as she thumped France’s 16-year-old wildcard Diane Parry 6-1 6-3.

Seventh seed Sloane Stephens of the U.S. hit 24 winners and converted all seven break points to beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1 7-6(3) on Court Philippe-Chatrier to move into the third round.

Fourth seed Kiki Bertens retired from her second-round match against Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova due to a stomach illness while trailing 3-1 in the opening set.

Dutchwoman Bertens was one of the pre-tournament favourites, having won the Madrid Open title this month.