Classy Nadal Sets Up Bellucci Test In Last 16

© Getty ImagesRafael Nadal has a 34-1 record at Roland Garros.

Four-time former champion Rafael Nadal proved he remains the man to beat at Roland Garros on Saturday, when he outclassed fellow former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, the No. 28 seed from Australia, for a place in the fourth round.

Second seed Nadal extended his perfect record to 18-0 on clay this year with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory in two hours and 28 minutes. It was the pair's fourth meeting at the clay-court Grand Slam championship and Nadal now leads Hewitt 6-4 overall.

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"He's an unbelievable player, a great champion, he's had very good titles and is former number one," said Nadal. "When I was at home I always watched Lleyton on TV and he was one of my idols, so playing against him now is always a pleasure.

"I had to play against the wind but I played the whole match really well," added the Manacor resdent. "I was very comfortable with my forehand, my backhand, but there was the wind. Because of the wind, Hewitt takes the ball really early, and so the ball came to my side fairly low. Sometimes I had trouble catching the ball because I was playing against the wind. But those were my main difficulties. In spite of all these difficulties, I felt fairly comfortable."

The 23-year-old Nadal is bidding to become just the second player in tennis history to win five or more Roland Garros titles. He has a 34-1 career record on Parisian clay.

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Nadal goes onto meet Thomaz Bellucci, the No. 24 seed, who continued his best Grand Slam performance to date by beating No. 14 seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-4 for a place in the fourth round.

The 22-year-old Brazilian, appearing at the eighth major championship of his career, hit 42 winners and seven aces for victory in two hours and 20 minutes against the oldest player in the draw.

"He's a top level opponent," assessed Nadal. "I think in 2008 he went really deep into the tournament. The last time I played him he was very difficult. He's a clay specialist. He he has just beaten Ljubicic, so he is quite confident. It's going to be very difficult, and it will also be a test for me to check my level of tennis."

Bellucci & Ljubicic Both Feature In The All-New DEUCE Magazine