Del Potro says Nadal nearly unbeatable

The first set was a tight affair, with Thiem claiming the decisive break in the 11th game but the Italian retained his composure to send the second to a tie-break.

Nadal won the pair’s only previous two meetings at the French Open, including their semi-final clash a year ago, but Thiem is confident he can upset the world number one on Sunday.

The first semi-final was between Thiem and surprise semifinalist, Marco Cecchinato, and it was a hard fought match with the first two sets setting the court alight.

In truth, however, I’d be mightily surprised if Thiem lost this match.

“But I have a plan”.

There was a sense of inevitability in the air when Del Potro served at 4-5 and sure enough Nadal turned the screws to grab two set points at 15-40. That crucial early juncture altered the course of things, though.

“I was just focused and try to hold the situation and just trying to be positive on every point, no?” I value this very much, especially at this advanced stage of my career and in view of the injuries I have suffered throughout my career. If he wins the game, OK.

“I am a human person”, Nadal said following his 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory. But I’m also aware that here it’s tougher.

Truth is, there were not many the rest of the way, as Nadal finished with 35 winners and just 19 unforced errors.

He made it to the semifinals at the French Open in each of the previous two years and has consistently been on the brink of quarterfinal appearances in all other Grand Slams as well.

Nadal was a heavy favorite Friday due to his dominance on clay over the years, but he still managed to raise some eyebrows by making Del Potro look ordinary. I’m happy to play the final again at my favourite grand slam. It has been a long time without a good feeling in my body.

Nadal is now 110-2 in best-of-five-set matches on the surface, 85-2 in Paris.

“If he doesn’t win this match people, if he can’t beat Cecchinato people will say he’s never going to win a Slam”.

“Thiem beat me in Madrid this year and played with big power”. Rafa Nadal goes in search of his 11th French Open title but don’t count out Novak Djokovic – and what about the in-form Alexander Zverev? In fact, on Friday’s semi-final, his forehand speed was more than 10 kph faster than it had been throughout the tournament.

The former US Open champion, who nearly retired from the sport two years ago after persistent wrist injuries, had said he would make a “last-minute decision” on his Roland Garros participation after suffering a leg injury at the Rome Masters.

-Tennis Channel Plus features up to 10 courts of live action from Roland Garros beginning Sunday, May 27 at 5:00am ET.

Cecchinato’s career has been tainted by his involvement in a match-fixing scandal; he was banned for 18 months in 2016 before having the suspension overturned.

Facing set point as he trailed 9-10, Thiem audaciously sliced a backhand drop-shot victor.

“The second-set tie-break was the big key to the match, 100 percent, because obviously, he (Cecchinato) felt all the matches from these two weeks after that”, Thiem said.