PARIS: World number one Rafa Nadal faces local hope Richard Gasquet in the third round of the French Open on Saturday in a clash between two long-time friends.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

The Spaniard has won all of his previous 15 matches against the number 27 seed.


"We`ve known each other since 11 or 12 years old and grown up together, so it`s going to be a great pleasure to play against (Gasquet)," said Nadal, who is chasing a record-extending 11th Roland Garros title.


Kyle Edmund, the last Briton standing in the tournament, is up against Italian Fabio Fognini for the first time in his career in the day`s first match on Court Suzanne Lenglen.


In the woman`s draw, Serena Williams faces 11th seed Julia Goerges of Germany.


The American is playing her first Grand Slam since winning a 23rd title at the 2017 Australian Open and giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia in September.


Serena dug deep to come back from a set and a break down to defeat Australia`s Ashleigh Barty 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the second round.


Twice champion Maria Sharapova will take on Czech sixth seed Karolina Pliskova in a mouth-watering clash for a place in the last 16. 


Order of play on the main showcourts (all matches third round unless stated, times GMT, prefix numbers denote seeding):


Court Philippe Chatrier (play starts at 0900)


3-Garbine Muguruza (Spain) v Samantha Stosur (Australia)


28-Maria Sharapova (Russia) v 6-Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic)


1-Rafael Nadal (Spain) v 27-Richard Gasquet (France)


31-Albert Ramos-Vinolas (Spain) v 5-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina)


Court Suzanne Lenglen (play starts at 0900)


18-Fabio Fognini (Italy) v 16-Kyle Edmund (Britain)


Irina-Camelia Begu (Romania) v 7-Caroline Garcia (France)


11-Julia Goerges (Germany) v Serena Williams (U.S.)


9-John Isner (U.S.) v Pierre-Hugues Herbert (France)


Court 1 (play starts at 0900)


Mischa Zverev (Germany) v 6-Kevin Anderson (South Africa)


3-Marin Cilic (Croatia) v Steve Johnson (U.S.)


12-Angelique Kerber (Germany) v 18-Kiki Bertens (Netherlands)


1-Timea Babos (Hungary)/Kristina Mladenovic (France) v Nao Hibino (Japan)/Oksana Kalashnikova (Georgia) - second round