Yesterday the 21-time Grand Slam champion, Nadal, made light work of beating the 23-year-old Frenchman, Corentin Moutet, in straight-sets.

Rafa, who is on course for a record-extending 14-time title at Roland Garros beat Moutet 6-3, 6-1 and 6-4 to advance to the next round.

The 35-year-old Nadal said he is happy with his progress thus after at the Grand Slam which he considered to be the most important one of the year.

“The last couple of months haven’t been easy, and the beginning of the season has been fantastic, unforgettable and very emotional,” Nadal said.

“After Indian Wells, I had a problem in my rib and I had to be off the court for a while, so it’s day-by-day work and the victories help a lot.

“Playing rallies, winning matches like tonight, it’s so important. It gives me a chance to have another practice tomorrow, and then another match after tomorrow.

“I’m just enjoying the fact that I’m at Roland-Garros, the most important tournament of the year for me.”

On Friday, Nadal will face Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in the third round.

Meanwhile, the defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic beat Alex Molcan of Slovakia 6-2, 6-3 and 7-6 while the 3rd seeded Alexander Zverev needed five sets to beat Sebastian Baez of Argentina.

In the women's singles, the British top-seed and US Open champion, Emma Raducanu, has been knocked out of the French Open in the second round.

The 19-year-old who was playing at Roland Garros for the first time as professional was beaten in three sets by Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.

Raducanu won the first set before Sasnovich dominated the next two sets for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport