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Patna : World No 2 Rafael Nadal, Spain, World No 3 Roger Federer, Switzerland, World No 7 Kei Nishikori, Japan, and World No 38 Benoit Paire, France, entered the Round of 16 of French Open winning their respective third round matches at Roland Garros, Paris, France, on May 31. 2019.
Nadal, the 2nd seed and 11-times champion, defeated World No 29 David Goffin, 28, Belgium, in four-set contest 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the third round. Nadal was all over Goffin in the first two sets breaking him twice in each set to win both the sets easily. But, Goffin, who had reached French Open QFs in 2016, rallied strongly in the 3rd set breaking Nadal’s service once to clinch the set 6-4. But, Nadal again broke once in the 4th set to win the match. Nadal now leads Goffin 4-1 head to head.
Nadal broke Goffin five times in the match while the latter could break his service only once. Nadal fired 5 Aces in the match to 3 by Goffin besides winning 5 games in a row. Nadal’s winning percentage both on his first and second serve ( 78 % & 81 %) was much higher than that of Goffin ( 63% & 54 %). Nadal won 5 games in a row in the match to 3 by Goffin, a former Top 10 player.
Federer, the 3rd seed and 2009 French Open Champion, beat World No 63 Casper Ruud, 20, Norway, in straight sets 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 in the third round. Federer fired 11 Aces in the match to just 2 by Ruud. Federer broke Ruud’s service 5 times in the match while the latter could break his service only once. Federer won 9 games in a row in the match to just 2 by Ruud.
Nishikori beat World No 32 Laslo Djere, 23, Serbia, in a five-set thriller 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6 in the third round. Djere though fired 11 Aces in the match to 7 by Nishikori. Both the players committed 6 double faults each. Nishikori won 9 break points to 6 by Djere in the match. Djere won 4 games in a row to 3 by Nishikori. But, Nishikori’s winning percentage on both his first and second serve was slightly higher than that of Djere.
Benoit Paire entered the Round of 16 after his 3rd round opponent and World No 57 Pablo Currenco Busta, Spain, retired in the 4th set trailing two sets to one.
World No 68 Leonardo Mayer, 32, Argentina, beat World No 252 Nicolas Mahut, 37, France, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 to enter the Round of 16. Mayer hammered 29 Aces in the match to 9 by Mahut. Both the players won 2 break points each. Mayers won 3 games in a row in the match to 4 by Mayer.