Nadal wins record 12th title French Open title - As it happened

French Open final: Follow live updates as 11-time champion Rafael Nadal takes on Dominic Thiem in the Roland Garros 2019 men's singles final.

Updated : Jun 09, 2019 21:54 IST

Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem also faced each other in the French Open 2018 men's singles final.
Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem also faced each other in the French Open 2018 men's singles final.
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Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem also faced each other in the French Open 2018 men's singles final.

 

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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