Paris - Rafael Nadal continued his bid for an 11th French Open title on Saturday by brushing aside home favourite Richard Gasquet to claim a 16th consecutive win over his childhood friend and reach the fourth round.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion has still never lost to his old junior rival at Tour level, after easing to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The 31-year-old took his run of consecutive completed sets at the French Open to 34, just seven shy of the record held by Bjorn Borg between 1979 and 1981.
Nadal, who lost only two points in the first five games, will next play Germany's world number 70 Maximilian Marterer, who beat Estonian lucky loser Jurgen Zopp.
Results from day seven of the French Open at Roland Garros on Saturday (x denotes seeding):
Men
3rd round
Maximilian Marterer (GER) bt Jurgen Zopp (EST) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4
Diego Schwartzman (ARG x11) bt Borna Coric (CRO) 7-5, 6-3, 6-3
Kevin Anderson (RSA x6) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4)
Fabio Fognini (ITA x18) bt Kyle Edmund (GBR x16) 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Karen Khachanov (RUS) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA x15) 6-3, 7-5, 6-3
Women
3rd round
Elise Mertens (BEL x16) bt Daria Gavrilova (AUS x24) 6-3, 6-1
Garbine Muguruza (ESP x3) bt Sam Stosur (AUS) 6-0, 6-2
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) bt Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK x19) 6-2, 6-4
Maria Sharapova (RUS x28) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x6) 6-2, 6-1
Anett Kontaveit (EST x25) bt Petra Kvitova (CZE x8) 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4)
Sloane Stephens (USA x10) bt Camila Giorgi (ITA) 4-6, 6-1, 8-6
