Rafa, Novak crack on

PARIS, May 26 

A dominant Rafael Nadal arrived at one career milestone on Thursday but the speed of the Spaniard’s rampage through the early rounds of the French Open suggests his eyes are fixed firmly on another more significant one.

The world No. 5, seeded four at the tournament he once owned, destroyed Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis 6-3 6-0 6-3 to reach the third round for the loss of only nine games and chalked up a 200th match victory in Grand Slams.

“That’s only another number, and that’s it,” said Nadal, who would become the only man to win the same Grand Slam 10 times in the professional era if he triumphs this year. “The only thing I know is that I have reached Round 3 and I know I have to play at a very high level.” 

It was his first appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier, where nine times he has sunk his teeth into La Coupe des Mousquetaires, since being taken apart by Novak Djokovic in last year’s quarterfinals.

Tougher tests will come and top seed Djokovic looked in the groove by beating tricky Belgium Steve Darcis 7-5 6-3 6-4 as his quest for the only Grand Slam title to elude him gathered pace. Djokovic claimed his 50th win at the tournament.

It was the Serb’s third win in three career meetings with Darcis, a player nicknamed ‘Shark’ who dumped Nadal out of Wimbledon in 2013.

Williams sisters take similar routes to Round 3

Same court, same scoreline — the Williams sisters followed each other into the third round in ruthless fashion on Thursday.

Defending champion Serena and her elder sister Venus, seeded ninth, respectively beat Brazilian Teliana Pereira and American Louisa Chirico 6-2 6-1 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

World No. 1 Serena went first but she did not stay to watch her sister.

Paes-Hingis advance

Leander Paes and Martina Hingis entered the mixed doubles pre-quarterfinals with a 6-4 6-4 win over Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Robert Farah. 

Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig beat the French duo of Mathilde Johansson and Tristan Lamasine 6-4 6-3 in the mixed doubles first round. — Agencies

Results (Round 2)

Men: 1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) bt Steve Darcis (Belgium) 7-5 6-3 6-4; 4-Rafa Nadal (Spain) bt Facundo Bagnis (Argentina) 6-3 6-0 6-3; Borna Coric (Croatia) bt 20-Bernard Tomic (Australia) 3-6 6-2 7-6(4) 7-6(6); 6-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) bt Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) 6-7(6) 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2; 7-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) bt Malek Jaziri (Tunisia) 6-1 2-6 6-2 6-4

Women: 9-Venus Williams (US) bt Louisa Chirico (US) 6-2 6-1; 1-Serena Williams (US) bt Teliana Pereira (Brazil) 6-2 6-1; Yulia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) bt 28-Andrea Petkovic (Germany) 6-2 6-2; 8-Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) bt Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) 6-4 6-4; 14-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) bt Kurumi Nara (Japan) 7-5 6-1; 15-Madison Keys (US) bt M Duque (Colombia) 6-3 6-2