• Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand during his third round victory against Stefano Travaglia of Italy at the French Open. Getty
    Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand during his third round victory against Stefano Travaglia of Italy at the French Open. Getty
  • Rafael Nadal celebrates his win. AFP
    Rafael Nadal celebrates his win. AFP
  • Sebastian Korda during his win against Pedro Martinez. Getty
    Sebastian Korda during his win against Pedro Martinez. Getty
  • Stan Wawrinka congratulates France's Hugo Gaston. AP
    Stan Wawrinka congratulates France's Hugo Gaston. AP
  • France's Hugo Gaston after his win against Stanislas Wawrinka. AFP
    France's Hugo Gaston after his win against Stanislas Wawrinka. AFP
  • Winner Austria's Dominic Thiem (R) with Norway's Casper Ruud. AFP
    Winner Austria's Dominic Thiem (R) with Norway's Casper Ruud. AFP
  • Kiki Bertens celebrates winning her third round match against Katerina Siniakova. AP
    Kiki Bertens celebrates winning her third round match against Katerina Siniakova. AP
  • Simona Halep of Romania celebrates victory against Amanda Anisimova of the United States. Getty
    Simona Halep of Romania celebrates victory against Amanda Anisimova of the United States. Getty

Ruthless Rafa Nadal on course for French Open No 13 after crushing win - in pictures


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Defending champion Rafa Nadal fired an ominous warning to his French Open rivals with a ruthless win over Italy's Stefano Travaglia in the third round, while 2015 winner Stan Wawrinka suffered a shock exit.

Nadal, chasing a record-extending 13th Roland Garros title, cruised to a 6-1 6-4 6-0 victory over Travaglia on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The 34-year-old Spaniard will next face American 20-year-old Sebastian Korda, who became the first qualifier in nine years to reach the fourth round by beating Spain's Pedro Martinez 6-4 6-3 6-1.

Three-times Grand Slam winner Wawrinka was broken three times in the final set as he was beaten 2-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-0 by French wildcard Hugo Gaston, ranked 239 in the world.

US Open champion Dominic Thiem faced eight break points against Norwegian Casper Ruud but did enough to reach the fourth round with a 6-4 6-3 6-1 victory.

In the women's draw, top seed Simona Halep underlined her title credentials with a 6-0 6-1 win over American teenager Amanda Anisimova.

Fifth seed Kiki Bertens, who left the court on a wheelchair after her second-round victory because of cramps, looked in total control as she raced past Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-2.

Strasbourg champion Elina Svitolina also progressed to the last 16 with a clinical 6-4 7-5 win over Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova.