Nadal leads Spanish Armada into French Open third round
Rafael Nadal once again demonstrated just why he’s the King of Clay with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Horacio Zeballos in the second round of the French Open.
The world No. 2 played a near-enough faultless match to win the battle of the left-handers in one hour and 45 minutes, as he overpowered Zeballos to end the Argentinian’s maiden French Open singles campaign in its second match.
The Spanish No. 1 is joined by Davis Cup teammates David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Juan Carlos Ferrero in the third round.
Ninth seeded Ferrer was well on his way to victory at 6-2 6-2 2-0 when Belgian opponent Xavier Malisse retired from the match, while Verdasco took four sets to win his way past France’s Florent Serra on court one.
Ferrero, who won the Roland Garros title back in 2003, was severely tested by another Spaniard in Pere Riba in his second round, but after going toe-to-toe with Ferrero in a second set tiebreak that finished 15-13 in his favour, Riba fell away and the 16th seed went on to wrap up the match 7-6(5), 6-7(13), 6-2, 6-2.
Nicolas Almagro was another Spaniard to book his place in the third round on day six, ending the hopes of Belgian Steve Darcis with a 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 victory.
The biggest shock as round two wrapped up came in the form of 12th seeded Fernando Gonzalez being sent packing in straight sets by Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr out on court 17. The Ukranian hit 36 winners and nine aces to down the Chilean 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Third seed Novak Djokovic, however, remains in the chase after a straight sets win against Japan’s Kei Nishikori. So too does Lleyton Hewitt after recording a – surprise, surprise – five set victory over Denis Istomin. The gritty Australian dropped the first set against his unseeded opponent before winning the match 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
That leaves the 28th seed with the toughest task any player can face in the French Open draw: a date with four-time champion Nadal.
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