Rafa admits to nerves after Diego scare
BEING a 10-time champion did not prevent Rafael Nadal from feeling nervous against Argentine Diego Schwartzman in their French Open quarter-final, with the Spaniard admitting that he can at times struggle to cope with his own expectations.
The world number one was a set and a break down on Wednesday before he regrouped and blazed through the last two sets yesterday in a last-eight showdown which was played over two days due to rain.
“I am a human person,” the Spaniard, who next faces Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, told reporters following his 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory. “Sometimes you play better, sometimes you are more nervous.”
The 11th-seeded Schwartzman appeared to have done his homework well as he dominated the early exchanges to bag the opening set – an achievement in itself as it was the first one Nadal had lost at Roland Garros since 2015.
“The quarter-finals was an important match for me. Was a match that maybe is a key match,” the 16-times grandslam champion said.
“Even if it was 6-3 6-4, it was an uncomfortable match for me.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match and I was a little bit more nervous than usual. That’s why.”
Things improved for Nadal after a first rain interruption on Wednesday.
Another downpour halted the match towards the end of the second set and upon resumption yesterday, the familiar all-conquering and ruthless Nadal was back on show.
Schwartzman had no chance.
“At the beginning yesterday (Wednesday) there were no options to open the court, to win points,” Nadal explained.
“And today I moved forward, and I had a better backhand. I was able to open the court on his forehand. Yesterday I was not able to do so. I was not gaining ground.
“And when I was able to change that, I was able to win the game and the match.”
Del Potro felled Marin Cilic in a French Open clash of the titans, winning 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 7-5, and will now aim his heavy artillery at Nadal in the semifinals.
Elsewhere, Romanian Simona Halep said the only thing she intends to change in her fourth grand slam final appearance is the result.
The 26-year-old world number one outplayed Garbine Muguruza in the French Open semi-final yesterday, winning 6-1 6-4 to put herself back within touching distance of finally lifting one of the sport’s biggest prizes.
She has been there before of course and always fallen just short – most notably last year at Roland Garros when she was a set and 3-0 to the good against Latvian Jelena Ostapenko before being overwhelmed by an onslaught of winners.
As she did last year she will start as favourite against American Sloane Stephens.
Asked what she will do to avoid a fourth runners-up cheque she said: “I don’t know what I will change. Probably nothing, because I will keep my routine,” she told reporters.
“I have more experience now. I feel calm. I feel that I have to enjoy it today, the victory, because it’s a great match.
“And I have two more days until I will play the final. So I will stay chilled. I will relax. And then we will see what is going to happen Saturday. For sure I will fight for every single ball.”
Meanwhile, Stephens maintained her perfect record against fellow American Madison Keys as she blazed into the French Open final with a 6-4 6-4 win in a repeat of last year’s US Open final.
In the first all-American Roland Garros semi-final since 2002, the 10th-seeded Stephens stayed composed throughout as Keys, who has not won a set against her in three meet- ings, peppered the court with unforced errors.
“It’s always hard to play someone from your country and such a good friend, but I’m happy I played my tennis,” Stephens said. “This is one of my favourite tournaments and I’m looking forward to Saturday. Merci Paris, je t’aime.
“I love playing here. So like I said, making the quarter-finals here was a big deal for me. I was really pleased.
“And obviously making the semis and finals, there is not much more you can ask for in a player.” – Reuters