Defending champion Rafael Nadal secured his place in the fourth round of the French Open this afternoon thanks to a 6-1 6-3 6-2 win over Andrey Kuznetsov.

Nadal, who is bidding to win a 10th title at Roland Garros, started the encounter in positive fashion, winning nine of the opening 10 games.

He opened up a two-set lead in just 90 minutes, before going on to break his Russian opponent in the third game of the third set to open up his passage to victory.

In total, the 28-year-old fired in 33 winners and converted eight of the 14 break points that he earned.

Now, standing between Nadal and a place in the quarter-finals in Paris, is American youngster Jack Sock.