Three-times champion Rafael Nadal crushed Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-1 6-3 6-1 to book his place in the last 16 of the French Open on Friday.

The Spaniard, bidding to emulate Bjorn Borg by winning a fourth consecutive title at Roland Garros, will face either Russian 15th seed Mikhail Youzhny or Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, seeded 22nd, for a place in the quarter-finals.

World number two Nadal gained the psychological edge on the 26th-seeded Nieminen when he saved four break points in the third game of the first set before stealing his opponent’s serve.

Nadal received treatment on a blistered right foot just before the third set but it did not prevent him from wrapping up victory after an hour and 58 minutes on his third match point.