RAFAEL NADAL WINS A 12TH FRENCH OPEN! There is no stopping this giant of the game, especially on the Roland Garros clay.
He beats Dominic Thiem 6-1
Despite losing a set in a French Open final for the first since the 2014 final against Djokovic, Nadal beats Thiem 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1.
All the "ombilible" Rafa moments.
Apologies for the break in updates. We've been experiencing some technical difficulties.
7:55pm: Nadal thought he'd got Thiem stranded with that forehand down the line, but it's long and the Spaniard mishits a return on the next point to gift the game to Nadal. Thiem leads 3-2 in the second set. It's all gone to script so far.
7:52pm: That's another simple hold for Nadal and it'ss 2-2 in the second set.
7:45pm: Goodness! Rafa nets as he tries to swat a simple volley, leading to a facepalm moment for the King of Clay. Unforced errors are creeping into Thiem's game as he plays a forehand long, despite having a lot of time to take it. But with a brilliant crosscourt forehand, he holds to lead 2-1 in the second set.
7:44pm: Thiem holds the first game of the second set. That was a much-needed hold. Nadal has it easier in the next game, holding to love. 1-1 in the second set.
7:35pm: A return long gives Nadal two set points.
Rafael Nadal wins the first set 6-3 against Dominic Thiem.
7:31pm: Nadal chases down a drop shot and then one of his own gets him two break points.
And Nadal gets the break. He'll serve for the opening set at 5-3.
7:26pm: A difficult hold for Nadal. It's 4-3 on serve in the first set.
7:25pm: Another contender for point of the tournament. Thiem just not letting Nadal ends his points. Deuce No. 3.
7:24pm: POINT OF THE TOURNAMENT.
Thiem drops his hands and then suddenly floats across a dropshot. Nadal scrambles but only succeeds in finding the net. Deuce.
7:21pm: Thiem goes a winner in a long rally but the ball lands just long. Advantage Nadal.
7:20pm: Thiem sends his return into the net. Deuce.
7:19pm: Nadal under pressure again as Thiem gets a break point.
7:15pm: Thiem saves one break point, but Nadal wins the game on the next. Three-all in the first set.
7:13pm: Nadal fights back immediately and has three break points.
7:09pm: Dominic Thiem breaks Rafael Nadal to go 3-2 up in the first set!
7:08pm: WHAT A RALLY! Thiem gets break point! Nadal returned four almost-winners from Thiem at the net!
7:07pm: Nadal under pressure on serve again at 30-all. He's making some uncharacteristic errors.
7:03pm: Nadal charges to the net, but a netcord sends his forehand wide. Thiem holds. Two-all.
7:01pm: Nadal finished the last game with a dropshot winner. Thiem begins this game with one.
6:59pm: Nadal needs a dropshot to end a 17-shot rally and get himself out of trouble. And he holds with an ace.
After 17 minutes of absorbing tennis, Nadal leads 2-1.
6:57pm: That was looking to be an easy hold for Nadal at 40-love. Thiem fights back to deuce.
6:52pm: Two unforced errors from Nadal give Thiem an easy hold. One-all in the first set.
6:48pm: Ouch! Thiem starts with a double fault.
6:47pm: An easy hold for Nadal to begin the match.
6:42pm: Rafa serves to start the match.
6:30pm: The champion and the challenger walk out onto Court Philippe-Chatrier.
We're minutes away from action in the men's singles final.
Dominic Thiem is attempting to do what no man has done before: defeat Rafael Nadal in the final of the French Open. All comers have failed over the years: Mariano Puerta, Roger Federer, Robin Soderling, Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer, Stan Wawrinka and, in last year's summit clash, Thiem.
READ | The numbers behind Thiem vs Nadal clash
A day after beating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a gruelling five-setter that stretched over two days, Dominic Thiem will be back on court to face a rested Rafael Nadal in a rematch of the 2018 French Open final.
READ | Thiem downs Djokovic, through to French Open final
The second best on clay for the last few years, the 25-year-old Austrian is the best man to challenge the King of Clay, feels three-time Roland-Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten .
On Saturday, Asheligh Barty of Australia became the sixth first-time champion in the last 10 Grand Slams, beating 19-year-old Russian Marketa Vondrousova in an hour and 10 minutes.
READ | Barty defeats Vondrousova to win French Open title
Earlier on Friday, Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer in straight sets for the sixth time at Roland-Garros. The Swiss star was returning to the French Open after three years, having opted to play only the hard court and grass tournaments that he prefers.
READ | Nadal hands Federer worst Slam loss in 11 years to reach 12th French Open final
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