Thirteen-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal has moved into the third round at the French Open with a 6-0 7-5 6-2 win over Richard Gasquet after 2 hours and 14 minutes on his 35th birthday. Nadal beat Gasquet for the 17th time in as many matches. The last time Gasquet won a set against Nadal dates back to the 2008 Masters 1000 in Toronto.
Nadal hit 36 winners to 23 unforced errors and converted 7 of his 16 break points.
Nadal dropped two points on his first serve and broke three time to take a bagel win in the first set. The 20-time Grand Slam held serve at love and broke serve with a service return to take a 2-0 lead. Nadal hit a backhand down the line winner in the third game to consolidate the break. He went up a double break to race a 4-0 lead when Gasquet made a forehand error in the fourth game. Nadal fired an unreturned serve in the fifth game and sealed the first set with a forehand crosscourt winner to claim his 40th bagel in a Grand Slam tournament.
Nadal earned a break in the fourth game with a drop shot winner and held serve to race out to a 4-1 lead.
Nadal saved a break point with a drop shot winner and held serve to open up a 5-2 lead. Gasquet saved a set point on serve in the eighth game and earned his first break of the match at 3-5.
Gasquet fended it off and won three consecutive games before Nadal sealed the second set 7-5 with a late break, converting his second set point.
Gasquet saved two break points at 1-2 in the third game before Nadal broke serve in the fifth game when Gasquet netted a forehand. Nadal held at 15 in the seventh game and closed out the match with his second break at 5-2 to secure his spot in the third round.
Gasquet was the only three French player, who reached the second round alongside Gael Monfils and Enzo Couacaud. It’s the first time that no French player has qualified fo the third round at Roland Garros.
“I respect him because I know how good Richard is. I know he is coming back after a tough period of time. I think he played smart, playing aggressive, I just went on court with highest respect, with the highest focus possible, and that’s what I try to do every day against everyone. I think I played a great first set, one of the best of the clay court season, in my opinion. No mistakes, high intensity, winners, playing long. Richard is a great player. He has some good serves in the next game, and the nit was tough”, said Nadal.
Nadal set up a third round match against Cameron Norrie who came back from one set down to beat Lloyd Harris 4-6 6-3 6-2.
“Every week he is making good results, winning against very good players. I know it is going to be a tough one. I need to be ready to play my best. I know he has a style of game that is not easy to play against. I need to play well”, said Nadal.
