Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal completed straight forward second round wins at Roland Garros, however Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverez were forced to dig deep.
World number one Djokovic completed a solid 6-2 6-3 7-6(4) victory over Slovakia's Alex Molcan to keep his title defence and quest for a record-equalling 21st Grand Slam on track.
Novak Djokovic Photo: Photosport Ltd
With Djokovic unable to defend his Australian Open title due to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Spaniard Rafa Nadal broke a three-way tie for the most Grand Slam titles with the Serb and Roger Federer by winning the Melbourne Park major at the start of the year.
Yet a successful rerun of his 2021 Roland Garros campaign, when he beat 13-time French Open winner Nadal in the semi-finals, will lift Djokovic alongside his great rival.
On a blustery day on Court Suzanne Lenglen, the 35-year-old Djokovic cruised through the opening two sets, breaking Molcan's serve three times without giving the Slovakian a single opportunity on his own delivery.
With nothing to lose, Molcan opened up his shoulders in the third set and with some aggressive all-court hitting managed to cancel out Djokovic's early advantage to force a tiebreak.
The top seed will next meet Slovenia's former world number 43 Aljaz Bedene for a place in the fourth round.
Nadal produced an imperious show to secure his 300th Grand Slam match victory, dismantling local hope Corentin Moutet 6-3 6-1 6-4 to book his spot in the third round.
Nadal counts 13 Roland Garros titles among his overall 21 majors -- the highest among men -- and despite his injury-blighted buildup to the claycourt tournament he has looked at his usual best in the first two rounds.
The Spaniard, who turns 36 next week, will next meet Dutch 26th seed Botic van de Zandschulp with a potential quarter-final looming against world number one Novak Djokovic who defeated him in last year's semi-finals.
Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev saved match points to fight back from the brink and reach the next round.
Spanish teenager Alcaraz won a rollercoaster match against compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
That came after German third seed Zverev sealed a 2-6 4-6 6-1 6-2 7-5 win over Argentine Sebastian Baez.
Another obstacle in women's top seed Iga Swiatek's path to a second French Open title was removed as fourth seed Maria Sakkari was knocked out 7-6(5) 7-6(4) by Czech Karolina Muchova in the second round.
Sakkari, a semi-finalist in Paris last year, never found her groove on Court Suzanne Lenglen as her opponent, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals last year, set up a meeting with American Amanda Anisimova.
The Greek was the latest high seed to exit after Tunisia's Ons Jabeur (6) and defending champion Barbora Krejcikova (2) were knocked out in the first round.
World number one and red hot favourite Swiatek and third seed Paula Badosa are the only two players from the top six left in the women's draw.
U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu was bundled out losing 3-6 6-1 6-1 to inspired Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
-Reuters