RAFA TICKET
Brilliant Nadal books his place in the final
RAFA NADAL is one win away from equalling Roger Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles after reaching his 13th French Open final.
The King of Clay saw off Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-3 7-6 to gain revenge for his Rome Masters defeat by the Argentine last month.
Despite struggling in the third set, the defending champion and world No.2 is through to the Paris final without dropping a set for the first time since 2017.
Nadal will seek his 13th French Open title and 100th match victory tomorrow as well as his 20th Grand Slam.
He said: “When we finish, we talk about that. What matters is I will play the final of the most important tournament of the year.”
Nadal needed 14 minutes to win his opening service game and over three hours to see off Schwartzman, the new world No.8.
“A few weeks ago I lost in Rome, so I expected a very tough match,” Nadal added. “I am happy the way that I played. I have been improving and today has been a very positive match for me.”
Eurosport expert Mats Wilander said: “Actually, it helped Rafa to have lost to Schwartzman in
Rome because he kn ew that he was in for a fight. He had to do more than what he did in Rome.
“In hindsight, I think maybe it was worse for S c hwa r t zma n because he thought he came in with a chance and therefore he might have played a little too passive in this match for me.
“I think today we saw the reasons why Rafa Nadal has the record he has.
“At Roland-Garros you have to be ready and willing to play when it is 30C when the sun is shining and the ball is bouncing. “Sometimes it is cold, even in May and June, and I think today we saw the greatness of Rafa Nadal – it doesn’t really matter what the conditions are in the end, he is nearly impossible to beat.”
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid made it a full house of Grand Slam titles in 2020 with victory in the men’s wheelchair doubles.
A 7-6 1-6 10-3 victory over Argentinian Gustavo Fernandez and Shingo Kunieda of Japan saw Hewett and Reid add to their trophies in Melbourne and New York and make it four Grand Slam titles in a row overall.
Hewett will attempt to win his fourth Grand Slam singles crown today when he takes on Joachim Gerard, of Belgium.
Jordanne Whiley is also chasing her third Grand Slam doubles titles of the year alongside Japan’s Yui Kamiji.
They defeated Marjolein Buis and Charlotte Famin 6-0 6-1 in the semi-finals.