Djokovic, Nadal, Alcaraz hunt spots in French Open last 16

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal aim to take another step Friday towards a blockbuster quarter-final clash at the French Open, while Carlos Alcaraz targets a place in the last 16 after surviving a match point in the previous round. World number one and defending champion Djokovic has eased through the first two rounds in his first Grand Slam since last year's US Open final defeat. He next plays Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene.

"I'm just glad to play the way I have been playing the first two rounds," said Djokovic, chasing a record-equalling 21st major following his high-profile deportation ahead of the Australian Open in January. "Everything is going in the right direction. I'm looking forward to the next challenge." The Serb has reached the last eight or better in each of his past 12 visits to Roland Garros, and accounts for two of Nadal's mere three defeats on the clay in Paris.

Nadal continues his push for a 14th French Open crown against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, a quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows in 2021. The Spaniard earned his 300th Grand Slam win by beating French wildcard Corentin Moutet in straight sets in round two. He is 107-3 at Roland Garros.

"Preparation hasn't been perfect, so I didn't anticipate a perfect start to the tournament. But I have been quite well," said Nadal. He began the year on a 20-match winning run including his triumph in Melbourne, but is without a title on clay this season after missing time with a rib injury and then suffering a recurrence of a foot problem.