Spaniard Nadal, the world number one who is seeking an 11th French Open crown, progressed with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Argentina's Guido Pella.

The 31-year-old will next face Richard Gasquet after the French home favourite overcame Tunisia's Malek Jaziri 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.

"We have known each other since 11 or 12 years old and grown up together, so it is going to be a great pleasure to play against him," Nadal said. 

"I played such a good match today, I am very happy with the way I played."

Elsewhere in the men's draw, Croatian third seed Marin Cilic beat Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 to book his place in the third round.

Cilic's next opponent will be American Steve Johnson, who ousted Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Halep, bidding to clinch her first Grand Slam title, also wasted little time in reaching round three as she beat American Taylor Townsend 6-3, 6-1.

The Romanian, twice a runner-up at the tournament on the iconic red clay in the French capital, will play Germany's Andrea Petkovic in the third round.

Russian Maria Sharapova, who served a 15-month drugs ban after testing positive for meldonium, was among the other winners in the women's draw.

Sharapova, a two-time French Open winner, remains on course for a third crown after she dispatched Croatia's Donna Vekic 7-5, 6-4.

She will next play Czech sixth seed Karolína Plíšková.

Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain, who won the event in 2016, is also through as she defeated French wildcard Fiona Ferro 6-4, 6-3.

"It's always tricky when you face a young, talented French player," said Muguruza. 

"It probably wasn't the best tennis out there but I'm happy that I managed to fight and to win."