Stat of the Day: Rafael Nadal is now 53-0 in the first week of Roland Garros

MATCH POINT: Nadal clinches the win over Van de Zandschulp

Rafael Nadal ripped 25 winners to just 13 unforced errors in his third-round match at Roland Garros on Friday, powering into the second week with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over 2021 US Open quarterfinalist Botic van de Zandschulp.

With the win, Nadal is now 53-0 in his career in the first week of Roland Garros.

The Spaniard improved to 18-0 in the first round and 18-0 in the second round with his wins over Jordan Thompson and Corentin Moutet earlier this week, and he’s now 17-0 in the third round after his victory over Van de Zandschulp.

The reason there’s one fewer third-round win than the first two rounds is because he couldn’t play the third round in 2016, having to withdraw from the tournament prior to his match against Marcel Granollers that year due to a left wrist injury.

Even more daunting: Nadal is now 159-6 in sets in the first week of Roland Garros. He’s only ever lost sets to five players in Week 1 in the French capital:

• Paul-Henri Mathieu in 3rd Rd in 2006 (Nadal won, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4)
• John Isner in 1st Rd in 2011 (Nadal won, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4)
• Daniel Brands in 1st Rd in 2013 (Nadal won, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3)
• Martin Klizan in 2nd Rd in 2013 (Nadal won, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3)
• David Goffin in 3rd Rd in 2019 (Nadal won, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3)