The two-time champion took less than two hours to get past his Czech opponent 6-3 6-3 6-4, setting up a quarter-final showdown with either Juan Martin del Potro or Gilles Simon.
Browsing: Rafael Ndal
Barring one wobble at the start of the third set, when he was briefly a break down, it was a brutally effective start to the Championships from the world No 1, who won 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 50 minutes.
The Spaniard recorded a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory over Diego Schwartzman in their rain-delayed match on Thursday.
With rain showers forecast at Roland Garros the 31-year-old wasted no time on Court Suzanne Lenglen after saving four break points in the first game against the 78th-ranked Pella.