Nadal shines against Malisse
French Open favourite Rafael Nadal was already concentrating on his third-round match against French youngster Richard Gasquet after impressively dispatching Belgium’s Xavier Malisse in round two on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old Spaniard, the recent winner of Masters Series events in Monte Carlo and Rome as well as of the Barcelona, Costa do Sauipe and Acapulco tournaments earlier this year, showed no mercy against Malisse whom he hammered 6-2 6-2 6-4 on centre court on Wednesday.
Everyone is already talking about his next match which will see him take on another teenage prodigy Gasquet in two days.
“The pressure is no problem for me,” Nadal said. “We are the same age, it’s going to be a nice match.
“I played against him in Monte Carlo (in the semis) and I won 6-3 in the third and final set.
“It’s going to be a tough game but I will play the same. I will try and play my best tennis. I want to win.”
Gasquet, meanwhile, showed the extent of his potential by ousting unseeded Dutchman Peter Wessels 6-3 7-6 (7/1) 6-1.
“It was not easy for me because it was my first time on centre court,” said the French youngster.
“The fact I won the tie break allowed me to relax and finish off the match well.
“I have a lot of potential and I am very happy to be in the third round.”
Gasquet is also confident he can do well against Nadal.
“He impresses me but I also know that I can perform a great match against him,” he added.
“The key will be to attack him, be aggressive and not let myself be trapped in his game.
“I am in great form at the moment anyway. I could not be fresher coming into the third round.
“Whatever happens against Nadal and I will do my best and have no regrets.”
Meanwhile, world number one Roger Federer easily progressed through to the next round by defeating Spain’s Nicolas Almagro in straight sets 6-3 7-6 (7/0) 6-2.
“I am very happy to have won in three sets, especially in the first rounds of a Grand Slam,” said the Swiss ace.
“I am glad I won but I know there is always something to improve in my game.
“I worked hard yesterday to make sure my serve and my forehand, which lacked consistency in the first round, got better.
“I had to perform a better match and I did it against a more dangerous rival.
“There are quite a few favourites here in Paris, including myself, Nadal, (Juan Carlos) Ferrero, (Carlos) Moya, David Nalbandian or even Andy Roddick.”
Meanwhile, defending champion and fifth seed Gaston Gaudio of Argentinian progressed to the Grand Slam’s third round today without even having to play his match as his opponent, Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov, pulled out with a left knee injury.
Spain’s Moya, the 1998 champion and 14th seed, hammered the Czech Republic’s Robin Vik in straight sets 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-1.
