PARIS,  (Reuters) – Only defending champion Svetlana  Kuznetsova missed out as the cream rose to the top on ‘Frantic  Friday’ at the French Open, with a procession of the game’s top  players showing just why they are a class apart.

After rain decimated Thursday’s programme, blue skies  returned to Paris and most of the top seeds played sunshine  tennis to match as the tournament got back on schedule and  readied itself for a mouth-watering second week.
With 11 of the top 12 men in action, Federer and Nadal  effortlessly lived up to top billing with comprehensive  victories that kept them on collision course for a June 6 final.

“I won last year, so I think I can do it again,” Federer  reassured reporters in any doubt about his ability to retain the  title after battering German qualifier Julian Reister for the  loss of eight games on a sun-baked Suzanne Lenglen court.

The victory, his 700th on the men’s Tour, handed Federer a  first grand slam meeting with close friend and Olympic gold  doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round.

Wawrinka, seemingly forever destined to operate in Federer’s  shadow as Swiss number two, has a rare claycourt victory over  his compatriot but is more aware than anyone of the influence he  has played in his career.