Rafa Nadal powered past his old friend Richard Gasquet as the 10-time Roland Garros champion bulldozed past the local favourite 6-3 6-2 6-2 to reach the French Open last 16 on Saturday.
Top seed Nadal won the first 12 points of the match and opened up a 5-0 led before Gasquet finally got into the contest, but it was once more too little, too late for a player who had been labelled the 'Mozart of tennis' in his teenage years.
Gasquet actually won their last encounter - but it was at the Kooyong Classic exhibition event this year.
When it matters Nadal must know he won't get into trouble, having not dropped a set against a player who was his rival in the juniors since 2008.
There was a sense of inevitability about the outcome when both players made their appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier, where Nadal is the huge favourite to lift the Musketeers Cup for a record-extending 11th time.
"I played very well, I'm sorry for Richard, he is a good friend and a good person," said Nadal, who played a few rallies with a ball boy after his match.
He has now won 30 sets in a row on the Parisian red dust and his last-16 opponent, 70th ranked 22-year-old German Maximilian Marterer, does not exactly seem equipped to cope with the Mallorcan's range of weapons.
Sixth seed Kevin Anderson is a potential quarter-final opponent for Nadal after beating Mischa Zverev 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-6 (7/4).
Croatia's Marin Cilic, the third seed, came through with no fuss 6-3 6-2 6-4 against American Steve Johnson.
Eighth seed David Goffin won in five tempestuous sets against France's Gael Monfils.
The Belgian appeared to exchange angry words with his opponent during one changeover after Monfils was given a time violation before running out 6-7 (6/8) 6-3 4-6 7-5 6-3 winner.
Italian 18th seed Fabio Fognini also came through a five-setter to oust Britain's Kyle Edmund, the 16th seed.
Frenchman Lucas Pouille, seeded 15, was dumped out by Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-5 6-3.
