Rafael Nadal into round four

Defending champion Rafael Nadal has booked his spot in the fourth round of the French Open following a 6-2 7-5 6-2 victory over Leonardo Mayer.

Nadal, who has lost just one match in nine years at Roland Garros, won his eighth title last year after overcoming countryman David Ferrer.

The first set proved relatively straightforward for Nadal, with two breaks of serve and four holds allowing the world number one to move ahead in the match.

The second set appeared to be heading for a similar outcome when Nadal broke early on, but Mayer responded with a break of his own to leave the set back on serve at 4-4.

Nadal secured another break at 5-5, however, before serving out the second set.

Both players lost their serve in the early stages of the third and what proved to be final set, but Nadal broke once more at 2-4 before serving it out after two hours and 19 minutes in Paris.