Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal and defending champion Novak Djokovic both won in straight sets to reach the third round at the French Open in Paris.
Nadal, the fourth seed from Spain, looked at his best in outclassing Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in under two hours.
Serbia’s Djokovic, the second seed, beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and seven minutes.
Nadal and Djokovic are seeded to meet in the semi-finals.
Djokovic, a 12-time Grand Slam winner, goes on to face Argentine Diego Schwartzman, while 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia.
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi watched Djokovic once again, having taken over as the 30-year-old’s coach on a temporary basis.
‘I think the first two sets went very well, the third was was more difficult,’ said Djokovic after beating the world No 59.
‘Generally, I felt better than the first round, so that’s exactly what I wanted.’
Nadal finished his match with a tally of 33 winners and only 13 unforced errors.
‘I was more or less under control during the whole match, so I’m very happy. Winning in straight sets is always good news,’ said Nadal. ‘I think I did a lot of things well.’
The 31-year-old is bidding to become the first man to win 10 titles at a single Grand Slam event, having lifted the trophy from 2005-2008 and 2010-2014.
Home favourite, 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, was given only the briefest of reprieves as he lost 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 to Argentine Renzo Olivo.
In the women’s section, defending champion Garbine Muguruza survived a scare to beat world No 99 Anett Kontaveit 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2 and reach the third round.
The fourth seed was a set and a break down, but recovered to win in two hours and eight minutes. The 23-year-old will now play Yulia Putintseva, seeded 27.
The women’s draw is wide open, especially after world No 1 Angelique Kerber and British hope Johanna Konta went out in the first round.
Watched by sister Serena – who will not play again this season because of her pregnancy – Venus Williams easily beat Kurumi Nara 6-3, 6-1 to move into round three for the first time in five years.
At 36, Williams she is the oldest woman to reach the third round at the French Open since Billie Jean King in 1982.
Slovak Dominika Cibulkova suffered a shock defeat by Tunisia’s world No 114 Ons Jabeur to become the third top-10 seed in the women’s draw to be knocked out. The sixth seed lost 6-4, 6-3.
Petra Kvitova’s return to action came to an end in the second round as the Czech lost 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5) to American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Caroline Wozniacki, the Danish 12th seed, produced an impressive performance to beat Canadian Francoise Abanda 6-0, 6-0 in 52 minutes.
Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
