Rafael Nadal has recorded the 200th Grand Slam victory of his career with a straight-sets win over Facundo Bagnis at the French Open.
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Nadal, 29, dropped the first two games against Bagnis but then won 18 of the next 22 to ease into a last-32 clash against Spanish compatriot Marcel Granollers.
“That’s only another number, and that’s it”, Nadal, who would become the only man to win the same grand slam 10 times in the professional era if he triumphs this year, told reporters.
Azarenka managed to pull out the second set, but she eventually decided not to continue.
He is 72-2 lifetime on the clay courts of the French Open. Daniel had stalled in the first round a year ago, when Wawrinka rode his sublime backhand to the final and won in his now infamous shorts against Novak Djokovic.
Rafael Nadal got off to an ideal start at the 2016 French Open.
“You can’t play too many matches like this if you want to go far in this tournament”, said Murray, who may have already done himself in after more than seven hours on court in two matches.
Women’s Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber has lost in three sets to Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.
It is the first time that Bedene has reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament and he will join fellow Briton Murray in going for a place in the last 16.
Bacsinszky was broken in her first service game, but the 2014 Wimbledon finalist couldn’t hold the lead.
Wawrinka beat Japan’s Taro Daniel 7-6 (7), 6-3, 6-4, Nishikori topped Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, Raonic served off France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 7-6 (0), 6-1, and Gasquet dismissed former French juniors champ Bjorn Fratangelo of the USA 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
“The first rounds are always tough in the tournament, especially for me, but, yeah, what can I say?”
The second-seeded Murray twice was two points from losing while serving and trailing 5-4 in the fifth.
Having levelled it up, however, Stepanek rediscovered the unorthodox wizardry that so flummoxed Murray on Monday and came within two points of becoming the oldest man since Jimmy Connors (aged 38) in 1991 to win a round at the French Open.
He ended his opponent’s misery with a trademark crosscourt forehand victor on his second match point on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Nadal was back to his ruthless best on clay in the opening round of the French Open, defeating Australian Sam Groth in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1. Firstly, Thiem will need to beat either Stephane Robert or Alexander Zverev in the third round.
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“Today it was warmer. a couple matches before (mine), but by the time I got out there, it was just really cold”.
