Nadal remains on course for third title

Rafael Nadal gave another claycourt masterclass today as he passed his first genuine test of this year’s French Open with flying colours to progress untroubled into the quarter-finals.

The Spaniard, seeking a third straight Roland Garros title, surged past Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 6-1 7-6 (7-5) to seal a last-eight showdown with fellow Spaniard and close friend Carlos Moya.