Roger Federer’s dream return to the French Open continued as the Swiss waltzed into quarter-finals by giving Argentine Leonardo Mayer a 6-2 6-3 6-3 masterclass.
And second-seeded- Rafael Nadal ended the dream run of Paris debutant Juan Ignacio Londero with a typically dominant 6-2 6-3 6-3 victory.
Federer, the 20-time grand slam champion, back at Roland Garros after a three-year hiatus, cruised through the opening rounds seemingly unchallenged and his last-16 encounter was no exception.
Things are likely to get trickier for Federer from now on as the third seed will next face either a resurgent Stan Wawrinka, the champion in 2015, or Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas who beat him at the Australian Open.
After just over an hour, Federer was already two sets up but Mayer offered some semblance of resistance in the third until the sixth game, when Federer, 37, broke decisively, ending his opponent’s ordeal on the first match point.
“I served super well and Leonardo had trouble returning. I was able to put pressure on him and I’m very happy with my performance,” Federer said.
Nadal also produced claycourt tennis of the highest quality to make the last eight of a grand slam event for the 38th time.
The tone was set when he broke the 25-year-old Londero’s serve in the second game of the Court Philippe Chatrier duel and while his 78th-ranked opponent never threw in the towel he could only try to delay the inevitable.
Londero had a break point early in the third set but Nadal stamped out that danger and broke in the very next game to close in on victory.
He seemed eager to finish the job swiftly, but after moving 4-1 ahead in the third set he dropped serve for the first time in the match.
Londero even sensed another break two games later when heavy hitting got him to 0-30 on the second seed’s serve, but Nadal reeled off four consecutive points, holding with an ace.
He finished the match with a signature forehand to set up a clash with Kei Nishikori or Benoit Paire.