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Paris - Reigning champion Rafael Nadal survived a blip to continue his bid for a record-extending 12th French Open title on Friday with a four-set third-round win over David Goffin, 10 years to the day since his shock 2009 exit to Robin Soderling.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner bounced back after an excellent third set from Belgian 27th seed Goffin to win 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and take his incredible Roland Garros win-loss record to 89-2 - those two defeats coming against Soderling in the last 16 a decade ago and against Novak Djokovic in 2015.
Nadal maintained his record of never having lost in the first week in Paris, although he withdrew injured before the third round in 2016.
He powered 38 winners past Goffin on Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a last-16 clash with either Argentinian Juan Ignacio Londero or home hope Corentin Moutet.
"David is a very good player. I started the match at a good level," said Nadal.
"After, in the third set, he played very well. I'm very happy to reach the last 16."
Goffin looked totally outclassed in the first two sets, but claimed his first-ever set against Nadal on clay, and the first the Spaniard had dropped at Roland Garros since last year's quarter-final win against Diego Schwartzman.
But Nadal refocused and clinched victory in the fourth set when Goffin fired a backhand wide after a single break of serve in game four.
Results from the sixth day of the French Open on Friday (x denotes seeding):
Men
2nd rd
Martin Klizan (SVK) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA x22) 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7
3rd rd
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)
Roger Federer (SUI x3) bt Casper Ruud (NOR) 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (10/8)
Kei Nishikori (JPN x7) bt Laslo Djere (SRB x31) 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
Benoit Paire (FRA) bt Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 0-0 - retired
Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) bt Corentin Moutet (FRA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Rafael Nadal (ESP x2) bt David Goffin (BEL x27) 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Women
2nd rd
Madison Keys (USA x14) bt Priscilla Hon (AUS) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR x27) bt Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) 5-7, 7-5, 11-9
3rd rd
Garbine Muguruza (ESP x19) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR x9) 6-3, 6-3
Donna Vekic (CRO x23) bt Belinda Bencic (SUI x15) 6-4, 6-1
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bt Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x28) 6-4, 6-4
Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x12) bt Elise Mertens (BEL x20) 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 11-9
Kaia Kanepi (EST) bt Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
Petra Martic (CRO x31) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x2) 6-3, 6-3
