Rafa, Novak into last 16

Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal lost just one game in a ruthless display to reach the French Open last 16 on Friday, but title-holder Novak Djokovic needed five sets to survive.

Nadal demonstrated why he is once more considered the overwhelming favourite at Roland Garros with a brutal demolition of Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili.

The Spaniard romped to a 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 win, narrowly missing out on becoming the sixth man in the Open era to record a "triple bagel".

"Perfection? I don't know about that," said Nadal, who plans to celebrate his 31st birthday on Saturday by watching Real Madrid take on Juventus in the Champions League final.

"I think I played very well today. The most important thing is to be through and I played my best match in a while."

Nadal will meet compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Reigning champion Djokovic escaped trouble against Diego Schwartzman, the second seed rallying from two sets to one down to prevail 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.

The 12-time major winner was embroiled in a bitter spat with umpire Carlos Ramos in the fourth set as Djokovic was warned for unsportsmanlike conduct after an earlier time violation.

But Djokovic eventually proved too strong and goes on to face Spanish 19th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas in round four.

"I expected a tough match, there were lots of exchanges from the baseline and the conditions were heavy," said Djokovic.

"I congratulate Diego on a great battle. He played very, very well."

Reigning women's champion Garbine Muguruza gained further momentum in the defence of her title with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Kazakh 27th seed Yulia Putintseva.

The Spaniard closed out victory with an ace in a match that featured 11 breaks of serve in 20 games played.

"I think it's important with all the three matches that I played that are not easy at all."

Muguruza plays French 13th seed Kristina Mladenovic, who rallied from 5-2 down in the third set to beat American Shelby Rogers, for a place in the last eight.

Venus Williams cruised past Belgium's Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-1, while 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame China's Zhang Shuai 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-5.