- Rafael Nadal beats Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
- Novak Djokovic coasts past Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
Rafael Nadal continued to build momentum at the French Open as he moved into the fourth round by easing past Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. With his victory, Nadal has set up a particularly curious second-week encounter against Félix Auger-Aliassime, the ninth seed, who coolly navigated three tight sets to beat Filip Krajinovic 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2), 7-5.
The match-up is notable because Auger-Aliassime has spent the past year working with Nadal’s uncle, Toni, who was the Spaniard’s primary coach from his childhood until 2017, and played a defining role in so much of his success. Toni Nadal remains the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor, meaning he is essentially employed by both players.