Defending champion Rafael Nadal took another step closer to a 13th Roland Garros title while US Open winner Dominic Thiem swept into the third round at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Second seed Nadal claimed a 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 win over Mackenzie McDonald of the United States. It was his 95th career win at the tournament and faces Stefano Travaglia for a place in the last 16. The Italian beat Kei Nishikori of Japan.
Later, sixth seed Alexander Zverev defeated home hope Pierre-Hugues Herbert 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4.
Nadal didn’t face a break point in Wednesday’s tie and hit 31 winners, looking in ominous form as he stepped up his pursuit of Roger Federer’s 20 major titles.
“The aim was to play as well as possible. I’m very happy. I have another difficult match next,” said Nadal.
Thiem had to save three set points late in the match but progressed with a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) victory over American qualifier Jack Sock.
The Austrian third seed will play Norway’s Casper Ruud, seeded 28th, who beat American Tommy Paul, mext.
“I’m very happy with my game in the first two rounds. It was not an easy draw at all and I’m very happy not to drop a set,” said Thiem, who defeated 2014 US Open winner Marin Cilic in round one.
US Open runner-up Zverev will play Italian qualifier Marco Cecchinato for a spot in the last 16. Cecchinato, ranked 110, famously beat Novak Djokovic on his way to a semi-final appearance at Roland Garros in 2018.
Stan Wawrinka, the 2015 champion, shrugged off the Paris sonic boom incident mid-match as he comfortably beat Dominik Koepfer of Germany 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on Court Suzanne Lenglen. He had beaten fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in the first round.
Sebastian Korda, the son of 1992 Roland Garros runner-up and 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda, also progressed after a four-sets victory over fellow American John Isner.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner also eased into the third round with a straight-set victory over Benjamin Bonzi.
Results so far
Second round
Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) bt Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 7-6 (10/8), 6-1, 7-5
Taylor Fritz (USA x27) bt Radu Albot (MDA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
Norbert Gombos (SVK) bt Jurij Rodionov (AUT) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4
Diego Schwartzman (ARG x12) bt Lorenzo Giustino (ITA) 6-1, 7-5, 6-0
Stan Wawrinka (SUI x16) bt Dominik Koepfer (GER) 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Hugo Gaston (FRA) bt Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-2
Casper Ruud (NOR x28) bt Tommy Paul (USA) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
Dominic Thiem (AUT x3) bt Jack Sock (USA) 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)
Alexander Zverev (GER x6) bt Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4
Marco Cecchinato (ITA) bt Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
Federico Coria (ARG) bt Benoit Paire (FRA x23) 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
Pedro Martinez (ESP) bt Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-3, 6-1, 6-0
Sebastian Korda (USA) bt John Isner (USA x21) 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Stefano Travaglia (ITA) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 6-2
Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt Mackenzie McDonald (USA) 6-1, 6-0, 6-3
Jannik Sinner (ITA) bt Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
With AFP Inputs