Rafael Nadal advances to 2nd round in straight sets in quest for record 7th French Open title

PARIS - Rafael Nadal began his quest for a record seventh French Open title in style, wearing a pink shirt and pink shoelaces.

And he won easily, too.

The second-seeded Spaniard had little trouble Tuesday against Simone Bolelli of Italy, winning 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier — the same stadium where Nadal has won six of his 10 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal, out to surpass Swedish legend Bjorn Borg with whom he shares six titles in Paris, survived a momentary second set blip to sweep past his 111th-ranked rival 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 and take their series to 3-0 in the champion's favour.

The 25-year-old Mallorcan, looking to join Borg and Rod Laver on 11 Grand Slam singles titles, won in 1hr 58min as he raced into a meeting with either Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan or Russian Igor Kunitsyn.

Nadal was imperiousness personified from the start on the Phillipe Chatrier showcourt as he broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set which he promptly polished off in 35 minutes.

The red-clad favourite raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set before his form suffered a minor aberration as he double faulted to drop serve and then had to save a trio of break points to stop Bolelli closing the gap to 4-3 before moving two sets clear after 1hr 24min on court.

Having found his range once more Nadal - only ever beaten once at the venue on seven previous visits, when creaking knees presaged a fourth-round loss to Sweden's Robin Soderling in 2009 - waltzed 3-0 clear in the third.

Bolelli was unable to stem the tide as his rival broke for a 5-1 lead and Nadal inevitably held to take the match and lift his incredible record at the venue to 46-1 as he goes after his fourth clay title of the year.

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