Nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal has become only the eighth player in the history of men's tennis to reach the 200 Grand Slam win milestone
French Open: Rafael Nadal scores a double century... of Grand Slam wins
Nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal has joined an elite club that has only eight people in it. Rafa made tennis history after he recorded his 200th Grand Slam match win on Thursday at Roland Garros in Paris.
The Spaniard, who is attempting to win a 10th title at Roland Garros and will celebrate his 30th birthday on June 3, improved to 200-30 lifetime at the four major championships when he vanquished Argentina's Facundo Bagnis 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 in one hour and 46 minutes for a place in the third round.
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Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning his men's second round match against Argentina's Facundo Bagnis at the Roland Garros 2016 French Tennis Open in Paris on Thursday. Pic/AFP
Nadal, 29, dropped the first two games against the world number 99 but then won 18 of the next 22. He committed 18 unforced errors.
He next plays either Spanish compatriot Marcel Granollers or Nicolas Mahut of France.
Nadal is now also just four victories shy of notching up 800 career match wins (796-168). He is 72-2 lifetime on the clay courts of Roland Garros.