Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal secure dominant wins to reach French Open fourth round

6 June. Serbian and Spaniard come through in straight sets, while Svitolina becomes latest big name to exit tournament in women’s draw World No 1 Novak Djokovic and reigning champion Rafael Nadal made short work of their respective third-round opponents in the French Open on Saturday. Djokovic produced a dominant performance to sweep aside 93rd-ranked Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 32 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier and is yet to lose a set in three matches. Nadal proved too strong for unseeded British opponent Cameron Norrie, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 at Roland Garros. The Spaniard beat Djokovic in last year’s final and the pair remain on course to meet in the semi-finals this time round. Djokovic broke Berankis six times in Paris and such was his control that he did not face a single breakpoint on his own serve. It means the 34-year-old Serbian becomes the first man in the Open era to reach the fourth round for a 12th consecutive year and stays on course for a 19th Grand Slam title. He faces 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti next after the World No 76 reached the last 16 on his Slam debut. Musetti smashed 50 winners past compatriot Marco Cecchinato on his way to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory. “I think Lorenzo is very nice, first of all, very nice kid. I really like how he plays. He’s got a really all-around game,” said Djokovic. “I know very much so that he is a big challenge to me. So there is no question I have to go out playing on a high level because he will not have much to lose. “I’m sure he’s going to come out and really try to play the tennis of his life playing on one of the two big courts.” Relentless Nadal, meanwhile, cruised into the last 16 for the 16th time and extended his winning run on the clay-courts Grand Slam to a remarkable 30 sets in a row. World No 45 Norrie battled gamely against the third seed, even breaking Nadal twice in the second set, but the 35-year-old went on to seal victory in a shade over two hours. Nadal will now face Italian 19-year-old Jannik Sinner, who defeated the unseeded Mikail Ymer of Sweden 6-1, 7-5, 6-3.