'Incredible' Nadal into last 16, second seed Pliskova bows out

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Defending champion Rafael Nadal dropped his first set at this year's French Open but stayed firmly on course for title number 12 with a 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-3 defeat of David Goffin on Friday.

"The first set and a half, I would say, it was really fantastic, incredible. It's difficult to play so well," Nadal, who will face Argentina's Juan Ignacio Londero next, in his 14th French Open fourth round, told reporters.

"You need to be realistic. The level that I kept during the first 45 minutes, you can't really maintain that easily," the second seed Spaniard added.

Meanwhile, Nadal's opponent, former world No.7 Goffin admitted: "He's so fast and he's behind and he's playing so heavy. This is his courtyard. It's very difficult to follow his pace."

Londero edged a five-setter against French wildcard Corentin Moutet to become the first debutant to get this far since Goffin managed it in 2012.

Karolina Pliskova of Czechoslovakia during women's singles third round match against Petra Martic of Croatia at the 2019 French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, France, May 31, 2019. /VCG Photo

On the women's court, Karolina Pliskova's quest for a maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open came to an end as the second seed lost 6-3 6-3 to Croatia's Petra Martic.

The powerful Czech struggled throughout to find the range on her feared serve and forehand as 31st seed Martic matched her best performance by reaching the last 16.

(With input from AFP and Reuters)