Paris — Ten-time champion Rafael Nadal breezed into the French Open third round and a clash against childhood friend Richard Gasquet on Thursday, as Maria Sharapova closed in on a potential reunion with longtime rival Serena Williams. Top seed and world No1 Nadal swept past Argentinian Guido Pella 6-2 6-1 6-1 showing no signs of the brief struggles he faced in the first round against lucky loser Simone Bolelli. Nadal will next face the home favourite and his old junior rival, Gasquet, whom he has beaten 15 times from as many meetings in professional tennis. "Richard is a very good friend. We’ve known each other since we were 11 or 12 years old so it will be very special to play again against him on such an important court [Philippe Chatrier] for my career," said the champion. Sharapova, the champion in Paris in 2012 and 2014, edged closer to a possible last-16 duel with Williams by seeing off Croatia’s Donna Vekic 7-5 6-4 in a tie which featured 10 breaks of serve and was secured on...
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