Roger Federer booked his spot in the second week of the French Open with another crisp performance on the clay courts of Paris.
Twenty years on from his first appearance at Grand Slam level, the Swiss great completed his 400th major match – more than any other player has registered.
In beating Norway’s Casper Ruud – whose father was in the 1999 Roland Garros draw along with Federer – 6-3 6-1 7-6 (10-8) he kept his name in the hat for an unlikely 21st Grand Slam win.
Federer had not featured here since 2015 but has looked comfortable in what have become unfamiliar surroundings. In his latest victory, he dispatched Ruud in his trademark gracefully ruthless manner.
Ruud, who trains at Nadal’s academy, confessed he was more of a Rafa fan than a Federer supporter ahead of the match, but he was unable to channel the Spaniard’s utter dominance over the Swiss on the clay courts of Paris in his own first meeting with the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
The 20-year-old – competing in the third round of a Slam for the first time – started well, keeping with his far more experienced opponent for the first six games before struggling to get on the board for the next set-and-a-half.
Federer’s only sticky moments came in the third, and ultimately final, set. A swing and a miss on the backhand side gifted his opponent break point before he netted a forehand to fall 2-0 behind. However, the third seed broke straight back.
Ruud kept fighting and forced a very competitive breaker but, as expected, it was Federer’s day.
Elsewhere, Benoit Paire – the bearded Frenchman who actually has a sponsor for his facial hair – reached the fourth round at his home Grand Slam for the first time in 10 attempts.
As he moved two sets up, his opponent, Pablo Carreno Busta, was forced to retire.
It was less good news for another home favourite as Lucas Pouille was taken out on Philippe-Chatrier.
Martin Klizan was the man to upset the 22nd seed, winning 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 6-3 3-6 9-7 in a match lasting little more than four hours across two days.
Five minutes later another marathon encounter drew to a close, this time on Suzanne-Lenglen.
Anastasija Sevastova, the Latvian 12th seed, defeated Belgium’s Elise Mertens in a terrific match, which lasted three hours and 18 minutes.
Ninth seed Ukrainian Elina Svitolina was another high-profile name to go out – following world No. 2 Karolina Pliskova’s exit – as she was beaten 6-3 6-3 by two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza, who has arrived in Paris in ominously good form.
Carla Suarez Navarro was another seed to fall. She was beaten 6-4 6-4 by 19-year-old Czech ace Marketa Vondrousova.
