Rafael Nadal wins record 32nd straight match, advances to French Open quarterfinals

PARIS – Rafael Nadal won a record 32nd straight match at the French Open on Monday, beating Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.

Nadal is an eight-time French Open champion with a 63-1 record on the red clay in Paris. But his only loss came in the fourth round in 2009, when he was a four-time defending champion for the first time.

Another upset never seemed possible this time, despite complaints of pain in his back that slowed his serves in the previous round.

Playing on Court Philippe Chatrier, Nadals’s favourite court in the world, the top-seeded Spaniard controlled the match from the start. He then won 17 straight points to open the second set, taking a 4-0 lead before finally sending a backhand wide to make it 15-15 in the fifth game.