Rafael Nadal’s navigation through a tricky first week at Wimbledon has left him feeling confident.

Nadal was in masterful form as he destroyed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 6-3 6-2 to make the second week at SW19 for the third year running.

The Spaniard has not won the trophy since 2010 but is looking every inch the title contender after following up his tense battle against Nick Kyrgios with an imperious 6-2 6-3 6-2 win over the Frenchman on Centre Court.

He remains on course for a blockbusting semi-final with Roger Federer, a possibility which seemed unlikely when, due to his shift in seeding, he was handed a testing draw.

Nadal is generally at his most vulnerable in the first week, as he transitions from clay to grass, but there have been no such problems this year.

“It is important that after the tough draw I was able to find a way to be in the second week,” he said.

“That gives me some positive feelings. Tomorrow I have one more day off to practice.

“It was not a big physical challenge today, so tomorrow is a day to keep working a little bit hard on some specific things.

“In general terms, it was an amazing, positive win.”

Federer is on track to make his semi-final date with Nadal after the Swiss trampled all over Lucas Pouille’s dreams in a rip-roaring 7-5 6-2 7-6 (7-4) third round win.

In doing so he became the first player – man or woman – to notch up 350 match wins at the majors and he also set a professional era record of reaching the last 16 for the 17th time – surpassing the previous benchmark he had shared with Jimmy Connors.

But Federer has his eyes firmly set on a much, much bigger prizes – a record ninth Challenge Cup and a 21st grand slam title.

To get closer to that he will first have to negotiate his way past Italian 17th seed Matteo Berrettini before the possible clash with old foe Nadal in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, volatile Fabio Fognini apologised after saying Wimbledon should be bombed during his third-round defeat by Tennys Sandgren.

“Damn English. I wish a bomb would explode on this club. A bomb should explode here,” he was heard saying in Italian.

Kei Nishikori brought up his 400th win on the main tour as he eased past American Steve Johnson.

The Japanese, seeded eighth, posted a 6-4 6-3 6-2 success first up on Court Three.

Sam Querrey, the 2017 semi-finalist, is back in the second week after a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 victory over Australian John Millman

Mikhail Kukushkin matched his best ever grand slam win with a four-set victory over Jan-Lennard Struff.