The world number two was supreme in the opening two sets but then inexplicably took his foot off the gas before bouncing back from 3-1 down in the fourth set to subdue his 33-year-old opponent for a 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory.
Second seed Coco Gauff overcame early problems on serve to cruise past China's Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-2, keeping her composure despite eight double faults in the first set to book a meeting with Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska in the third round.
World number three Stanislas Wawrinka fell at the first hurdle in the Dubai Open on Tuesday, beaten 7-6(4), 6-3 by 77th-ranked Bosnian Damir Dzumhur.
His early tennis experiences were at the shell-ravaged Zetra Olympic Hall which was used as a temporary morgue during the war.
The 25-year-old Dzumhur recovered from a poor start to beat the Briton 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and will bid to become the Balkan nation's first Tour winner in Saturday's title-decider against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.
Novak Djokovic celebrated his return to the summit of world tennis with a stroll into the quarter-finals at the Paris Masters as outclassed Damir Dzumhur had to retire with injury in the second set of their third round clash.
Speaking after a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, Federer said the prize money for players at the top of the sport had improved significantly since he began playing but that was not the case at the other end of the spectrum.
Australia's bad boys of tennis Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic have been named in the Davis Cup squad for the World Group playoff against Slovakia after bowing out of the US Open in typical controversy.
Safiullin upsets Muller, Moutet through in Mallorca
Kenin, Andreescu to be part of team event in Charleston in June
Roger Federer began his 63rd consecutive Grand Slam tournament with a majestic 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 first-round win over little-known Bosnian Damir Dzumhur at Wimbledon in London, on Tuesday.
Roger Federer continued his smooth progress at the French Open on Friday with a straightforward 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Bosnian Damir Dzumhur to reach the fourth round.
Djokovic received severe backlash for organising the tournament with an audience amid the pandemic.
Verdasco questions French Open COVID-19 testing protocols after withdrawal
Nadal needed all his experience to keep Pouille at bay in the decider and the match looked to be heading for another tiebreak before he pounced to break Pouille's serve for the first time to go 6-5 up in the third.
Images from Day 6 of the French Open in Paris on Friday.
Rafael Nadal will skip the Miami Open that begins later this month in a bid to recover from a back injury in time for the clay court swing
Nadal's comments follow media reports this week that Novak Djokovic, the president of the Players' Council, had urged players to unionise at a pre-Australian Open meeting and revolt over the way the revenues from the four grand slams are distributed.
Roger Federer suffered a shock 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) defeat to Australian wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis on Saturday that will cost the Swiss his world number one ranking and leaves the Miami men's tournament wide open.
Roger Federer made a comfortable start to his quest for a 100th title, despatching Fabio Fognini in straight sets to ease into the quarter-finals at the Paris Masters on Thursday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Monday
Former world number one Garbine Muguruza was beaten 7-5, 6-4 by Aryna Sabalenka in the China Open second round on Tuesday while an ailing Jelena Ostapenko lost 6-0, 6-0 to Wang Qiang.
Images from matches played on Day 5 at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park on Friday
IMAGES from matches played on Day 4 of the French Open at Roland Garros on Wednesday
Karolina Pliskova lost her cool over a line call and bashed a hole into the umpire's chair with her racket after suffering a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 defeat by Maria Sakkari in the Italian Open second round on Wednesday.
Images from the Australian Open matches played at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
