Nadal Crushes Nieminen to Keep Title Defence on Track

Rafael Nadal advanced to the fourth round of the French Open after demolishing Jarkko Nieminen, dropping just five games.

The world No2 needed to save four break points in the third game of the opening set but, having done so, he proved irrepressible, breaking 26th-seed Nieminen in game four before going on to win the next three games and claim the set. Nadal's run of winning games stretched to seven, putting him a break up in the second set on his fourth successive day on court at Roland Garros.

The defending champion's progress was hampered briefly just before the final set - not by his opponent, but by severe blisters on his right foot that needed treatment. But he secured victory on his third match point in just under two hours.

The Spaniard, who has won all of the 24 matches that he has played at Roland Garros, will face either Russia's Mikhail Youzhny or compatriot Fernando Verdasco for a place in the quarter-finals.