New York – Rafael Nadal defeated close friend Richard Gasquet for the 18th time to reach the US Open fourth round on Saturday as world number one Iga Swiatek made the last 16 for a second successive year.
Four-time champion Nadal took his record over Gasquet to a perfect 18-0 with a 6-0, 6-1, 7-5 victory to stay on course for a 23rd Grand Slam title.Nadal has now won 34 straight sets against Frenchman Gasquet who he first played as a junior.
On Saturday, he was barely troubled, winning the first nine games of the contest before Gasquet got on the board.
