French Open 2018: Nadal in cruise control as Pella is dispatched ; Serena, Halep through

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Paris, May 31: Rafael Nadal seldom had to shift through the gears as he dominated Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 to reach round three of the French Open, while Serena Williams gave an ominous warning with a comeback victory against Ashleigh Barty.

The world No 1 needed almost an hour to wrap up the first set, but then quickly stamped his authority on the match as Pella wilted in Paris.

Nadal, a 10-time victor and the defending champion at Roland Garros, was playing exhibition stuff at times and the Spaniard will be aware that sterner tests lie in wait, starting with a third-round tie against Richard Gasquet.

Pella had four opportunities to break in the first game as Nadal made an uncharacteristically sloppy opening.

The Argentine failed to take the chance, though, and, after matching his illustrious opponent early on, was punished in game six - Pella saving two break points before putting a forehand into the net on the third.

Nadal was not as fluent as his usual lofty standards in the opening games, but Pella's impressive resolve was broken again when serving to stay in the opener, saving four set points in a 12-minute game before finally yielding.

Momentum was now truly on Nadal's side and so was luck, a fortunate clip of the net seeing him break early in the second set and a break to love followed en route to a swift 5-0 lead.

Pella avoided the bagel but was on the back foot again in the third – Nadal earning two break points in game three that he converted with a crunching forehand winner.

Now in full flow, Nadal played a couple more mesmerising forehands to bring up a double-break 4-1 lead, Pella's misery compounded with a double fault when Nadal was on match point.

In the women's section, former world number one Serena is playing a first major tournament since winning the 2017 Australian Open, after giving birth to her first child in September.

The America great was staring down the barrel of defeat after losing the first set to the 17th seed, but roared back for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph.

Meanwhile, world No 1 Simona Halep eased into the third round with an emphatic straight-sets victory over Taylor Townsend.

Halep had to come from a set down to beat Alison Riske on Wednesday in an encounter which was put back due to rain, but had no such trouble in a 6-3, 6-1 thrashing of Townsend.

Last year's runner-up maintained the momentum gained from her first-round fightback, breaking five times in a dominant performance on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The 72-ranked Townsend hung in there, but she was no match for Halep, who will take on Andrea Petkovic after coming through two matches in as many days as she eyes a first Grand Slam title.

Angelique Kerber defeated Ana Bogdan 6-2, 6-3 in just 60 minutes. Also, Maria Sharapova recorded a 7-5, 6-4 win over Donna Vekic while Garbine Muguruza, a champion in Paris two years ago, beat home favourite Fiona Ferro 6-4, 6-3.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Nadal [1] bt Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-1

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Nadal – 37/26 Pella – 15/32

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Nadal – 4/3 Pella – 8/4

BREAK POINTS WON Nadal – 7/20 Pella – 0/4

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Nadal – 56 Pella – 54

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Nadal – 85/65 Pella – 66/26

TOTAL POINTS Nadal – 94 Pella – 58

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Halep [1] bt Townsend 6-3, 6-1

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Halep - 21/13 Townsend - 9/16

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Halep - 2/0 Townsend - 1/2

BREAK POINTS WON Halep - 5/12 Townsend - 1/2

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Halep - 63 Townsend - 66

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Halep - 75/58 Townsend - 47/42

TOTAL POINTS Halep - 66 Townsend - 43

Source: OPTA