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Williams, who turned 33 Monday, was eliminated in the first round of the French Open by Urszula Radwanska; her younger sister Serena went on to win the singles title. Venus Williams hasn't made it as far as the quarterfinals in a grand slam event since she made the U.S. Open semis in 2010.
"I want to go out in my peak. That's my goal. But have I peaked yet?" Williams said. "I definitely want to continue my journey to get a few more."
Nadal broke the men's record for match wins at Roland Garros, where he improved to 59-1, with his lone defeat against Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009.
Saturday's victory completed the No. 1-ranked Williams' rebound from a shocking loss to 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano in the first round at Roland Garros a year ago. Since that defeat she's 74-3.
Williams reached the French Open final for the first time since 2002 when she beat Sara Errani 6-0, 6-1 Thursday. The 15-time Grand Slam champion won her only Roland Garros title 11 years ago, beating sister Venus in the final.
There were moments, as recently as last year, when a body that would not stay healthy and on-court results prompted Bethanie Mattek-Sands to wonder whether it was simply time to call it a career after more than a decade as a professional tennis player.
Mattek-Sands won seven consecutive games to take a 5-0 lead in the final set after the second rain delay of the match. She served out the victory with the sun shining and rain falling, and became the fourth U.S. woman to reach the third round.
While Williams looks unbeatable of late, Federer has yet to win a tournament this year, the first time he has arrived at Roland Garros without a title since 2000. But he's rested and healthy, and his vast repertoire of shots was on full display against the overmatched Somdev Devvarman, who is ranked 188th and now 0-9 against top-10 players.
Filling a mostly empty stadium court with her familiar shrieks Wednesday, the world's former No. 1 player beat Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-1, 6-4 in a match postponed one day because of rain. That meant Azarenka reached the second round 72 hours after some players.
Djokovic began his bid to win his first French Open title with a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 7-5 victory Tuesday against 58th-ranked David Goffin of Belgium.
The Spaniard survived an early scare Monday and successfully began his bid for an eighth title at Roland Garros by rallying past Daniel Brands of Germany, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3.
Upset in the first round a year ago, Williams channeled any lingering frustration into her overpowering strokes and drubbed Anna Tatishvili 6-0, 6-1.
The quick exit for Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, came a year after her younger sister Serena was upset in the first round at Roland Garros.
The U.S. Open champion met with specialists this week and has opted to now focus on preparing for the start of the grass-court season and Wimbledon next month.
Serena won her 14th straight match in Charleston with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Venus Williams — the most one-sided result in the sisters' long, intense rivalry.
