World No. 3 Rafael Nadal termed the first set of his second-round match against Richard Gasquet, which he won 6-0, 7-5, 6-2 on Thursday night, as the best of his clay-court season. Nadal allowed his French opponent, who he beat for the 17th time in a row, to win only nine points in the opening set while winning seven games in a row.

"I think I played a great first set. [It was] one of the best of the clay-court season in my opinion. No mistakes, high intensity, winners, played long," Nadal told media after the match. Nadal, who has a dominant record against Gasquet having not lost a set to him since 2008, said he entered the second-round match with the highest respect for the Frenchman.