PARIS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Defending champion Rafa Nadal fired an ominous warning to his French Open rivals with a ruthless win over Italy’s Stefano Travaglia in the third round on Friday, while 2015 winner Stan Wawrinka suffered a shock exit.

Nadal, chasing a record-extending 13th Roland Garros title, cruised to a 6-1 6-4 6-0 victory over Travaglia on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The 34-year-old Spaniard will next face American 20-year-old Sebastian Korda, who became the first qualifier in nine years to reach the fourth round by beating Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-4 6-3 6-1.

Three-times Grand Slam winner Wawrinka was broken three times in the final set as he was beaten 2-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-0 by French wildcard Hugo Gaston, ranked 239 in the world.

U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem faced eight break points against Norwegian Casper Ruud but did enough to reach the fourth round with a 6-4 6-3 6-1 victory.

In the women’s draw, top seed Simona Halep underlined her title credentials with a 6-0 6-1 win over American teenager Amanda Anisimova.

Fifth seed Kiki Bertens, who left the court on a wheelchair after her second-round victory because of cramps, looked in total control as she raced past Czech Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-2.

Strasbourg champion Elina Svitolina also progressed to the last 16 with a clinical 6-4 7-5 win over Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Highlights of the sixth day at the French Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Friday (all times GMT):

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Ruthless Nadal charges into French Open last 16

Halep punishes Anisimova to reach last 16

Thiem schools Ruud to reach fourth round at Roland Garros

Wildcard Gaston keeps French flag flying with Wawrinka upset

Zverev powers past Cecchinato into French Open last 16

No HawkEye at Roland Garros despite calls after Shapovalov incident

Korda writing his own script as he books clash with idol Nadal

Italian Sinner on the fast track in Paris

Players can drift away mentally without fans, says Svitolina after 3rd round victory

Local favourite Garcia holds her nerve to beat Mertens in thriller

Bertens rolls past Siniakova into last 16

Podoroska’s dream run in Paris continues

Polish teenager Swiatek sweeps past Bouchard into last 16

Teenage sensation Fernandez gears up for Kvitova challenge

French Open order of play on Saturday

1935 SCHWARTZMAN ADVANCES

Rome finalist Diego Schwartzman has reached the last 16 without dropping a single set, defeating Slovakia’s Norbert Gombos 7-6(3) 6-3 6-3 in the third round.

1930 ZVEREV PROVES TOO STRONG FOR CECCHINATO

Sixth seed Alexander Zverev won 85% of his first-serve points to ease past 2018 semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato in a 6-1 7-5 6-3 victory.

1900 BERTENS BREEZES INTO ROUND FOUR

Fifth seed Kiki Bertens made light work of Czech Katerina Siniakova to reach the fourth round with a 6-2 6-2 victory in 58 minutes.

1720 NADAL MARCHES INTO LAST 16

Defending champion Rafa Nadal moved into the fourth round for a record 15th time in the Open Era with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 6-0 win over Italian Stefano Travaglia.

1705 GASTON TOPPLES WAWRINKA IN FIVE-SET BATTLE

In his first tour-level five-set match, 20-year-old French wildcard Hugo Gaston delivered shock 2-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-0 victory over three-times Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.

World number 239 Gaston is the second man ranked outside the top 200 to reach the fourth round this week, following American Sebastian Korda (213), who beat Pedro Martinez 6-4 6-3 6-1.

1525 GARCIA STUNS MERTENS WITH COMEBACK WIN

Local favourite Caroline Garcia rallied from a set down to beat 16th seeded Belgian Elise Mertens 1-6 6-4 7-5.

Garcia will next face third seed Elina Svitolina, who advanced with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.

1250 HALEP EXACTS REVENGE ON ANISIMOVA

Top seed Simona Halep cruised to a 6-0 6-1 victory over American Amanda Anisimova in just 54 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The Romanian struck 15 winners and converted six break point opportunities to avenge her quarter-final loss to Anisimova in Paris last year.

1130 THIEM RACES INTO LAST 16

Third seed Dominic Thiem booked his place in the fourth round at Roland Garros for a fifth consecutive year with a 6-4 6-3 6-1 win over Norway’s Casper Ruud.

1039 SWIATEK SENDS BOUCHARD PACKING

Poland’s Iga Swiatek eased past Canadian wildcard Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-2 to book a spot in the fourth round of the French Open.

0910 PLAY UNDER WAY AT ROLAND GARROS

U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem began his third-round clash against Norwegian 28th seed Casper Ruud on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The temperature was hovering around 15 degrees Celsius and showers are forecast throughout the day.

Defending champion Rafa Nadal faces unseeded Italian Stefano Travaglia later in the day. (Reporting by Arvind Sriram, Hardik Vyas and Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Toby Davis and Christian Radnedge)

Source: Reuters

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