French Open Day 3: Nadal starts quest for 10th title with a win as top seeds cruise in Round 1

Rafael Nadal

Top seeds at the French Open advanced to the next round with ease as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal posted easy victories in their respective Round 1 matches. In women’s singles, Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki cruised through as well.

However, Canadian sensation Eugenie Bouchard suffered an exit at the hands of Frenchman Kristina Mladenovic. Mladenovic, playing with the home crowd on her side, got the better of Bouchard in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4.

Nadal, who is on the quest for his 10^th French Open title, got the better of teenage qualifier, Quentin Halys in 1 hour and 50 minutes. The Spaniard beat his 18-year-old opponent 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. The 28-year-old can clash with Djokovic as early as the quarter-final as they are in the same half of the draw.

Top seed, Djokovic, won 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 against Jarkko Nieminen to qualify for Round 2. The Serbian was given a shock in the second set when Nieminen cruised to a 5-2 lead. However, the World No. 1, who is on the lookout for his first Roland Garros title, came back strongly and wasted no time in the third set to seal the win.

Andrea Hlavackova was Serena’s first victim at the tournament as she was comprehensively beaten 2-6, 3-6 by the American. Wozniacki had an easy outing as well as she got the better off Italian Karin Knapp in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.