Rafael Nadal eases past Richard Gasquet to progress to French Open fourth round

Nadal rarely had to break stride as he extended his excellent record against Gasquet to 16 consecutive wins.

The world No 1 was in cruise control as he stormed to a 5-0 lead in the first set but Gasquet hit back by winning the next three games, which rallied the home crowd.

Nadal held serve in the ninth game to claim the first set 6-3 before powering to a 4-0 lead in the second.

Again Gasquet hit back with a quickfire two games but Nadal then wrapped it up 6-2.

The Spaniard continued his blistering start to sets in the third by breaking twice for another 4-0 lead.

The fifth game was by far the pick of the match as advantage swapped hands eight times before Gasquet avoided a bagel with a thunderous ace.

The Frenchman refused to go down without a fight and put on a magnificent rally in the sixth game but Nadal held serve to love before winning the third set 6-2.

Nadal will now face Maximilian Marterer in the last 16.

Rafael Nadal vs Richard Gasquet LIVE

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 6-2 Richard Gasquet - NADAL WINS THE MATCH

Nadal books his place in the fourth round with his first match point of the day. Gasquet was admirable but in the end he was powerless to avoid defeat.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 5-2 Richard Gasquet*

Gasquet serves well to extend the match for another game - where Nadal is serving for the set.

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 5-1 Richard Gasquet

Nadal is being made to work for this as Gasquet begins to play way more aggressively.

The Spaniard claims the first point with a smashing volley after a brilliant rally which was mostly dictated by Gasquet.

Nadal avoids any more scares by seeing out his service game to love to move to within one game of the match.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 4-1 Richard Gasquet*

What a game these two have just put on!

Nadal is keen to get this match boxed off as quickly as possible and he battles to deuce on Gasquet's serve.

Advantage changes hands eight times as both players produce a number of exquisite shots.

Gasquet eventually wins the game win an ace to avoid a bagel.

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 4-0 Richard Gasquet

It’s just a matter of formalities now as Nadal moves to within two games of the match.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 3-0 Richard Gasquet*

The atmosphere is rising as Gasquet steps up his efforts to battle for every point.

Nadal apologises when his shot clips the top of the net and drops on the other side for deuce.

The world No 1 then takes the advantage before breaking for a second time in the third set.

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 2-0 Richard Gasquet

Nadal holds serve despite giving away two cheap early points.

John McEnroe has just told Eurosport that Nadal is “having problems concentrating” and that is how Gasquet is winning the odd games.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 1-0 Richard Gasquet*

Just the start Nadal needed in this third set as he breaks in the opening game.

It is just a matter of avoiding an embarrassing scoreline for Gasquet now.

Rafael Nadal vs Richard Gasquet LIVE

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-2 Richard Gasquet

Nadal is way too comfortable here and he hasn’t even broken out of second gear.

Two sets up and there is only one way this match is going from here.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 5-2 Richard Gasquet*

Nadal applauds Gasquet’s second shot as he takes a 0-30 lead but the Spaniard responds by taking the game goes to deuce.

Gasquet provides another late fightback as he holds serve to extend the set that little bit longer.

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 5-1 Richard Gasquet

Nadal drops just one point as he moves to within one game of taking the second set.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 4-1 Richard Gasquet*

Gasquet strikes back but it feels like it has come too late again.

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 4-0 Richard Gasquet

This is turning into almost a carbon copy of the first set as Nadal again holds his serve to go 4-0 up.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 3-0 Richard Gasquet*

Decent rally as the game goes to deuce but it is Nadal who again moves into the net to take the advantage.

Gasquet is being frequently punished on his second serve and it happens again as Nadal breaks for a second time in this set.

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 2-0 Richard Gasquet

Nadal now beginning to rediscover the form he showed at the start of the match as he holds serve to love.

Rafael Nadal 6-3 1-0 Richard Gasquet*

Nadal does well to come from 40-15 down to take it to deuce. A low sweeping forehand return followed by a forehand volley drew him level.

Gasquet slices into the net when attempting a dropshot to hand Nadal the advantage before the world No 1 breaks at the first opportunity.

*Rafael Nadal 6-3 Richard Gasquet

The home crowd are really getting behind Gasquet now and he wins the first two points on the next game.

Nadal pulls it back to 30-30 as the Frenchman drills a forehand into the net.

Gasquet then slices a backhand into the net after initially recovering from a couple of defensive shots.

Another unforced error sees Nadal take the first set 6-3 but these are very promising signs from the No 29 seed in the last four games.

Rafael Nadal 5-3 Richard Gasquet*

Three games in a row now for Gasquet as he rounds off a superb service game with an ace.

Nadal still one break up as he gets ready to serve for the set.

*Rafael Nadal 5-2 Richard Gasquet

Gasquet breaks!

You don’t see that often from Nadal as he lashes a simple forehand into the net as he loses his first two points on serve.

Nadal pulls one back but Gasquet earns himself two break points with a delightful backhand down the line.

Nadal rescues the first break point but Gasquet forces him too deep on the second to break - but it's probably too little too late in this set.

Rafael Nadal 5-1 Richard Gasquet*

That’s better from Gasquet to keep Nadal deep from serve before finishing him with the next shot.

He forces the Spaniard to play a backhand into the net on the next point and then serves an ace to put himself 40-0 up.

Gasquet then finishes the game with an ace - that’s more like it!

*Rafael Nadal 5-0 Richard Gasquet

This is way too easy for the world No 1 as he serves to love once again.

Gasquet needs to find something else to avoid a bagel in the opening set.

Rafael Nadal 4-0 Richard Gasquet*

Gasquet wins his first points of the match but it is in vein as Nadal breaks again without breaking his stride.

Nadal had two break points but after wasting the first he made no mistake on the second - despite Gasquet trying to play on the front-foot by moving towards the net.

*Rafael Nadal 3-0 Richard Gasquet

And we continue to rattle through the games as Nadal wins his 12th point in a row.

Gasquet’s coach Fabrice Santoro said the No 29 seed will have to keep the ball low throughout the match but he has not been able to do that in the early exchanges.

Nadal picking - and expertly executing - his shots at will.

Rafael Nadal 2-0 Richard Gasquet*

And the King of Clay has continued his momentum into the second game by breaking to love.

Gasquet is going to be in for a very long (well, short) afternoon here.

Nadal won the point with a scrumptious forehand drive down the line - too much power for the Frenchman.

*Rafael Nadal 1-0 Richard Gasquet

A bruising start from Rafa as he win his first service game to love. Only one fault throughout the entire game, too.

1.45pm: Players are out on court now and the game should get underway in the next few minutes.

1.30pm: All eyes are currently glued to Court Suzanne Lenglen as Kyle Edmund has gone to a fifth set against Fabio Fognini.

It’s 3-3 in the deciding set where the British No 1 is looking to get to the fourth round of the French Open for the first time.

1.25pm: Sharapova eases to a 6-2, 6-1 win and now we await Nadal finishing up on the practice courts before he makes his way down to centre court.

1.15pm: We are just waiting on Maria Sharapova vs Karolina Pliskova to draw to its conclusion - which should be over very shortly - then Nadal will make his way to Court Philippe Chatrier.

Sharapova is a set and break up so we are looking at getting underway in around half an hour time.