Rafael Nadal frustrated by time violation in French Open win

Rafael Nadal was left frustrated after receiving a time violation at the French Open, and suggested he was being unfairly targeted in an effort to speed up play.

Nadal reached a record-equalling 11th Roland Garros quarter-final with a 6-1 6-2 6-2 win over Spanish compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut.

During the match he was twice warned by umpire Carlos Ramos for slow play before being docked a first serve.

"If you want to play well, you have to let players breathe a little. We're not machines that cannot think. That's my viewpoint," said Nadal, who repeatedly falls foul of the rule which stipulates a maximum 25 seconds between points.

"What else can I say? I'm telling you this with some sadness, because I don't want to have any problems.

"But this umpire is, I think, trying, in a certain way, to look for my faults, my errors."

If you want to play well, you have to let players breathe a little. We're not machines that cannot think.

The 14-time major winner believes that some umpires are stricter than others who may afford a player more leeway especially in the red-hot atmosphere of a Grand Slam.

"Theoretically the umpires are here to analyse the match and they are not here to use the stopwatch, otherwise we should have a stopwatch on the court," added Nadal.

"That's the whole point. Some dictate things or give their calls in a certain way. Other umpires have different styles."

Despite a career-long habit of over-stepping the time allowance, Nadal insisted he will not change.

"I told him that he will have to give me many warnings, because if I have not yet grabbed my towel, that he's going to give me a warning," he added.

Vanquished opponent Bautista Agut backed Nadal in his spat with Ramos.

"Rafa and I need to play a lot of points. We need to run around a lot. Having the pressure of the umpires is something we don't really need," said the 29-year-old. "I don't think I really agree with that rule."

Nadal has dropped just 20 games in four rounds so far and next faces fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, who stunned fifth seed Milos Raonic 4-6 7-6 (2) 6-7 (6) 6-4 8-6.

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