Nadal, Gasquet Advance to Match-up at French Open

No. 4 seed Rafael Nadal defeated Belgian Xavier Malisse in straight sets Wednesday to set up the much-anticipated meeting with French teen and No. 30 seed Richard Gasquet, who also advanced with a straight-set win over Dutchman Peter Wessels.

"It will be a nice match," said Nadal, who leads Gasquet 2-1 in their career head-to-head meetings. "It was tough in Monte Carlo (where Nadal came back from a set down to win). He's a complete player with a good backhand. If I concentrate on my game, I'll have a chance to win."

Top-seeded Roger Federer also advanced with an easier-than-expected straight-set win over Spanish riser Nicolas Almagro.

"I thought it was quite different today, you know, than my previous match," Federer said. "First of all, the opponent, but then also the conditions. I thought it was different court, as well. I thought it was much quicker. Had to kind of get used to that. I feel I'm in the tournament, of course. I got the rhythm."

Seeded victims on the day who didn't have the rhythm were (7) Tim Henman (l. to Horna in four), (26) Jiri Novak (l. to Mantilla in five), (31) Juan Ignacio Chela (l. to Hanescu in four), and (33) Robin Soderling (l. to H.-T. Lee).

Henman received a warning for an audible obscenity during his loss.

"Sometimes you get French and Spaniards...seems to be a leeway there," Henman said after losing to Horna. "But as soon as anything English comes out, then, you know, it's another warning. I can't defend what I said, but it seems that sometimes in other languages, it's okay."

Other seeded winners were (5) Gaston Gaudio (d. Tursunov by walkover (knee injury)), (10) David Nalbandian (d. (Q) Berdych, dropping only five games), (14) Carlos Moya (d. Vik in four), (16) Radek Stepanek (d. Serra), (18) Mario Ancic (d. O.Hernandez after dropping the first), (20) David Ferrer (d. Patience), (23) Sebastien Grosjean (d. Sanguinetti), and (25) Fernando Gonzalez (d. (Q) Behrend).

In the only all-unseeded match on the day, Spain's Fernando Vicente defeated Serb Janko Tipsarevic in four sets.

Scheduled for Thursday are (8) Guillermo "El Mago" Coria vs. Djokovic, (28) Kiefer vs. Clement, Mathieu vs. Chris "Penthouse" Guccione, (2) Roddick vs. Acasuso, (21) Haas vs. Spadea, (3) Safin vs. Dlouhy, (9) Canas vs. Montanes, (32) Ferrero vs. Hernych, (29) Youzhny vs. Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer, (19) T.Johansson vs. D.Sanchez, (27) Volandri vs. Flavio "Of the Day" Saretta, Blake vs. Wawrinka, (12) Davydenko vs. Olivier "The Roach" Rochus, (15) Robredo vs. D.Norman, Puerta vs. Vliegen, and Nieminen vs. Andreev.