FRENCH OPEN: After 17 years Nadal plays in front of Zidane
Nadal needed two hours and 11 minutes to emerge at the top and advance into the last 16 in Paris for the 17th time in 18 trips to the French capital
Tennis icon Rafael Nadal claimed the first Major title at Roland Garros 2005, a couple of days after turning 19.
The last teenager with a major title by his name toppled Roger Federer and Mariano Puerta in four sets to emerge at the top and write history books.
A famous football player Zinedine Zidane was there to present Rafa with the trophy during the ceremony. Seventeen years later, Nadal is still among the players to beat in Paris, seeking his 14th Roland Garros crown despite turning 36 in a week.
In the third round, Zidane watched Rafa's Friday match on Court Suzanne-Lenglen and witnessed a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Botic Van De Zandschulp.
Nadal needed two hours and 11 minutes to emerge at the top and advance into the last 16 in Paris for the 17th time in 18 trips to the French capital.
Rafa claimed 40 out of 46 points behind the first serve and got broken twice from three chances offered to his rival.
Botic could not take advantage of them after dropping almost half of the points behind the initial shot.
He suffered six breaks from 12 chances offered to Nadal and failed to make a comeback in the third set's closing stages.
The Spaniard had 25 winners and 13 unforced errors and tamed his strokes nicely in the opening two sets. Nadal built a massive lead in the shortest and mid-range exchanges, and Van De Zandschulp followed his pace in the most prolonged rallies.
Botic kicked off the action with a break of serve in the encounter's first game, and Nadal pulled it back instantly for 1-1. Rafa forged a 4-2 lead with a break in game six and forced the rival's mistake with a mighty forehand in the next one.
The Spaniard closed the opener with a service winner at 5-3 after 35 minutes to gain a boost. Rafa stormed over his opponent in set number two, delivering one good hold after another and keeping the pressure on the return.
He broke Van De Zandschulp in the third game and extended the advantage with another at 3-1 after a forehand crosscourt winner. Botic saved a set point on his serve in game seven before Rafa closed the set with an ace for 6-3, 6-2.
The Spaniard raced into a 4-0 lead in the third set with a double break before losing ground a bit. He allowed Van De Zandschulp to reduce the deficit to 5-4 with a hold at 15 in game nine. Nadal served for the match after that and created a match point with a volley winner.
Botic denied it and earned a break chance that Rafa saved with a service winner. The Spaniard grabbed the third match point with a smash winner for a place in the last 16 and his 108th victory in Paris.
