Nadal finally finds a reason to smile

All the complaints about lousy weather, windy courts and rotten schedules were forgotten as the sun finally shined on birthday boy Rafa Nadal's pursuit of a record eighth French Open title on Monday.

Nadal spent the first week labelling Paris "too cold", the Chatrier Court "too windy" and the playing schedule "a joke" after three wobbly performances, but he was all smiles as the mercury finally crept over 20 C for the first time in this year's event.

The Spaniard, bidding to become the first player to win the same major eight times, took a step closer to a possible semi-final blockbuster against Novak Djokovic with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 last-16 win over Japan's Kei Nishikori.