World No. 1 Novak Djokovic maintained his imperious progress at the French Open with a 6-0 6-3 6-2 drubbing of Colombian Daniel Galan to move effortlessly into the last 16 on Sunday (NZ time).
The 33-year-old was rarely extended by his 153rd-ranked opponent and even found time to help out with court sweeping duties when the match was interrupted by rain.
Djokovic, like 12-time champion Rafa Nadal, has reached the last 16 without the loss of a set although things will toughen up with powerful Russian Karen Khachanov up next.
The 33-year-old Serb won the first set in 28 minutes and when he broke for a 2-0 lead in the second set a rare 'triple bagel' looked a distinct possibility.
But Galan, a lucky loser from qualifying, got on the board with a forehand winner which brought loud cheers from the small crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.
With heavy rain falling and the roof sliding slowly across, Djokovic ordered play to be halted after Galan slipped on the muddy baseline.
After more clay had been added to improve the slimy surface, a laughing Djokovic offered a hand with sweeping duties before resuming his day job with the roof closed.
After that, the outcome was never in doubt although Galan did make the Serb work up a sweat with some courageous tennis.
Djokovic had to save four break points in a competitive third set before completing victory.
Meanwhile, German qualifier Daniel Altmaier stunned Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini at court Philippe Chatrier with a 6-2 7-6(5) 6-4 victory to move into the fourth round.
Altmaier, ranked 186th in the world, hit 23 winners while Berrettini made 42 unforced error
Elsewhere, Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is also through to the fourth round after his Aljaz Bedene retired with an ankle injury while trailing 6-1 6-2 3-1.
In his fourth round, the Greek will play Bulgarian 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov, who also advanced in a similar fashion when Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain retired due to sickness after going down 6-1 6-3.
"I have been throwing up all day," said Spaniard Baena. "I started yesterday night at 3 am and I tried to warm up and tried to play, but I couldn't. It was impossible."
Slovenian Bedene, who defeated Tsitsipas in straight sets when they met at Rotterdam earlier this year, first called for the physiotherapist on Court Suzanne Lenglen to get treatment on his right ankle after going down 5-0 in the opening set.
After returning to court Bedene won the first game to get on the scoreboard and then got his ankle strapped before the start of the second set.
Tsitsipas, the reigning ATP Finals champion, kept his focus and went about his business smoothly, hitting 28 winners and breaking the 56th-ranked Bedene's serve five times before the 31-year-old decided he could no longer continue.
In an all-Spanish third round encounter, 17th seed Pablo Carreno Busta proved too strong for 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut in a 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory.
Russian 13th seed Andrey Rublev is also through tot he next round with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 win over South African Kevin Anderson.
The 22-year-old Rublev smashed 27 winners while Anderson, who made 33 unforced errors, failed to create a single break-point opportunity.
Reuters
