Claycourt machine Rafa Nadal celebrated his 35th birthday by handing his longtime pal Richard Gasquet a 6-0 7-5 6-2 masterclass as he stormed into the third round of the French Open on Thursday. Thirteen-time Roland Garros champion Nadal showed no mercy as he demolished the Frenchman for the 17th time in as many professional encounters. Gasquet beat Nadal in the semi-finals of the Under-14 Tournoi des Petits As in 1999, but since then has always emerged second best in their encounters. "I think I played a great first set, one of the best of the claycourt season, in my opinion. Improving his Roland Garros record to a jaw-dropping 102-2, Nadal has not dropped a set here since beating Dominic Thiem in the 2019 final.

Source: dna June 04, 2021 01:47 UTC