Nadal crushes Moutet to reach third round with 300th Grand Slam win

Rafael Nadal notched his 300th Grand Slam win at Roland-Garros on Wednesday as he dismissed the challenge of French wildcard Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1, 6-4.

In an entertaining battle under the lights, in the third night session of this year’s event, Moutet had his moments, creating a great atmosphere on Court Philippe Chatrier.

But 13-time champion Nadal, seeded No 5 this year, was too strong, too consistent and too good as he wrapped up victory in just over two hours to set up a third-round clash with Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, the No 26 seed.

It was Nadal’s 107th victory in Paris, more than anyone else at the French Open in history.

“I’m happy I am through in three sets, that’s an important fact for me and that gives me the chance to keep working tomorrow and try to be ready for after tomorrow against a tough opponent,” Nadal said. “So let’s see. I am happy about a lot of things that I did tonight, so let’s try to keep going and keep improving tomorrow.”

The packed crowd inside Chatrier were willing Moutet on to extend the match but though Nadal fell a break down early in the third set, he soon got back on track and clinched victory when Moutet’s lob went long.

“I think the crowd was very nice with me too,” he said. “I really didn’t feel the crowd against me at all. I think it was a 50/50 and it was supporting good tennis.

“I always enjoy a good support here in Paris, I think the people here knows how special is this place for me and how important and how much respect I always had for Roland Garros and I think they appreciate all the things that I did in this event, so I feel a lot of love from the people here.”

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In the previous round, the 35-year-old Spaniard beat Australian Jordan Thompson (6-2, 6-2, 6-2), while Moutet, ranked No 139, won against Swiss Stan Wawrinka (2-6, 6-3, 7-6 [2], 6-3).

Paris (Grand Slam): Other second-round results (Stade Roland-Garros, clay, EUR 43.600.000, most recent results first):

• Grigor Dimitrov (18) beat Borna Coric: 6-0, 6-4, 6-3
• Botic van de Zandschulp beat Fabio Fognini: 6-4, 7-6 [2], 3-2 ab.
• Brandon Nakashima beat Tallon Griekspoor: 7-6 [6], 6-4, 6-2
• Novak Djokovic (1) beat Alex Molcan: 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 [4]
• Carlos Alcaraz (6) beat Albert Ramos Vinolas: 6-1, 6-7 [7], 5-7, 7-6 [2], 6-4
• Diego Schwartzman (15) beat Jaume Munar: 2-6, 6-7 [3], 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
• Alexander Zverev (3) beat Sebastian Baez: 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5
• Filip Krajinovic beat Borna Gojo (Q): 7-6 [5], 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
• Bernabe Zapata Miralles (Q) beat Taylor Harry Fritz (13): 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
• Cameron Norrie (10) beat Jason Murray Kubler (Q): 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
• Aljaz Bedene beat Pablo Cuevas: 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 [5], 6-4
• Karen Khachanov (21) beat Hugo Dellien: 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 [1], 6-3
• Felix Auger-Aliassime (9) beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli (Q): 6-0, 6-3, 6-4
• John Isner (23) beat Gregoire Barrere (WC): 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 [5]

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