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French Open: Nadal leaves del Potro no chance – on Sunday final against Thiem

French Open: Nadal leaves del Potro no chance - on Sunday final against Thiem

Tennis

French Open: Nadal leaves del Potro no chance – on Sunday final against Thiem

Rafael Nadal is in the French Open final for the eleventh time after a clear victory against Juan Martin del Potro. The Spaniard will meet Austria’s number one, Dominic Thiem.

By Jens Huiber from Paris

Rafael Nadal is only one win away from his eleventh Grand Slam title: The world number one defeated Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-finals of the French Open 2018 after 2:14 hours 6:4, 6:1 and 6:2 and will play Dominic Thiem on Sunday.

The small, decisive difference between Nadal, ten-time Paris champion, and del Potro, last in 2009 in the Bois de Boulogne semi-final, was revealed in games nine and ten of the first set: Del Potro failed to take three chances on serve Nadal, the Spaniard struck mercilessly. Also because a ball just barely clapped on the baseline in front of del Potro.

Basically, Juan Martin del Potro enjoys a home advantage in almost every tennis stadium in the world; Argentine fans always find a way to take possession of the stands. But the Court Philippe Chatrier is Rafael Nadal’s territory. And he defended it with vehemence: After 95 minutes it was 6:4 and 6:1.

The result up to the semi-final of Roland Garros 2018 was reasonably balanced, del Potro had won five games, Nadal nine. The last of them at the US Open last September, also in the semifinal round.

Del Potro could keep up with Nadal on faster surfaces, in Paris the Argentinian lacked speed and variation: Nadal could hit almost every baseline ball at the same height, del Potro also made life difficult with drop shots.

After the third set started with a break for Nadal, the favourite pulled through mercilessly until the end. Not only with the passing ball to 4:1 with double break the tension from the match had given way.

In the final on Sunday I will play Dominic Thiem. The Austrian defeated Nadal in the semi-finals last year, but has already beaten the Mallorcan three times on clay – most recently in Madrid at the last match between the two.

Here all matches between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem

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