Rafael Nadal was in masterful form as he destroyed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to make the second week of Wimbledon.
The Spaniard has not won the title at SW19 since 2010 but is looking every inch the title contender after an imperious 6-2 6-3 6-2 win over the Frenchman on Centre Court.
After the needle that made his second-round match with Nick Kyrgios unmissable, this was a much more cordial affair against Tsonga, whose career is on the slide.
He now meets either Dan Evans or Joao Sousa and remains on course for a blockbusting semi-final with Roger Federer.
After the intensity of that win over Kyrgios, Nadal will be grateful for the trouble-free nature of this triumph, which was never in doubt as soon as he took his first break to lead 3-1.
🇪🇸 @RafaelNadal ties Bjorn Borg's total of 51 #Wimbledon match wins. 🎥: @Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/ibRY40LuVo — ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) July 6, 2019
The first set was sealed with a second break, to take it 6-2 in 34 minutes.
Tsonga is fifth on list of players with the most wins over Nadal, but he was never going to add to that, and the 33-year-old's solitary break in the second set allowed him to take it 6-3.
Nadal was in the zone and back-to-back breaks in the third made it the easiest of afternoons as he wrapped it up in one hour and 48 minutes.
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