( CNN ) -- Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal made light work of his heavy schedule and a recurring foot problem to reach the last 16 of the French Open on Friday . Rafael Nadal inspects his blistered foot during his third-round victory against Jarko Nieminen . The world No . 2 crushed Finnish 26th seed Jarkko Nieminen 6-1 6-3 6-1 in his fourth successive day of action on the Paris clay , following frustration this week with bad weather . He will play fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco after his 7-6 5-7 7-6 6-1 win over 15th seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia . Third seed Novak Djokovic was also untroubled in a later third round match to see off Wayne Odesnik of the United States 7-5 6-4 6-2 . Nadal will be hoping for some time to let his blistered foot recover , needing treatment during the match against Nieminen for a problem that saw him beaten in the second round of the Rome Masters earlier in the claycourt season . He is bidding to become the second man after the legendary Bjorn Borg to win four successive titles at Roland Garros , but has already vented his anger at the ATP Tour for scheduling four top-level clay events in as many weeks . Watch Nadal talk about his tournament hopes » . Nadal showed little signs of tiredness as he cruised past Nieminen in less than two hours to extend his winning record at the tournament to 24 matches . His opening victory against Brazil 's Thomaz Bellucci took two days due to torrential rain , then on Thursday he saw off another qualifier in straight sets when he beat Frenchman Nicolas Devilder . In other third round action on Friday , Spain 's Nicolas Almagro again showed his clay court pedigree with a 6-3 6-7 6-3 7-5 win over Britain 's 10th seed Andy Murray . Almagro , who has won two titles on clay this season , was made to work hard by Murray , but recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the third set to win seven games in row and take command . He will now play 145th-ranked Frenchman Jeremy Chardy who ended the run of 30th seed Dmitry Tursunov of Russia in straight sets . Latvia 's Ernests Gulbis continued his fine run as he defeated Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 6-3 7-5 6-2 to set up a clash with home hope Michael Llodra who beat Italy 's Simone Bolelli in straight sets . In second-round action , France 's Florent Serra completed a hard-fought 6-4 6-3 6-7 7-6 win over Victor Hanescu of Romania and will next face American Bobby Ginepri .
Three - time defending champion Rafael Nadal into last 16 of the French Open . Spanish world No . 2 beats Finnish 26th seed Jarkko Nieminen 6 - 1 6 - 3 6 - 1 . Second seed next faces Fernando Verdasco who beat Mikhail Elgin . Third seed Novak Djokovic later beats Nadal in the fourth round at Roland Garros . Nicolas Almagro of Spain puts out 10th seed Andy Murray of Britain .