Nadal on course for title No.10 in Paris

Rafael Nadal’s favourite number is nine - but he will reconsider if he wins an unprecedented 10th French Open title on Sunday.

The Spaniard continued his romp through the draw at Roland Garros with a 6-3 6-4 6-0 victory over Dominic Thiem.

Nadal is yet to drop a set and has lost just 29 games in six matches - his lowest tally ever and the least since Bjorn Borg in 1978.

Now only Stan Wawrinka remains between the 31-year-old and another record as the first man to reach double digits at a single slam.

Nadal said: “Nine or 10, it’s only 10 per cent more. It’s true that 10 is a beautiful number, but actually my favourite is nine. But for sure it be- comes 10.

“I think I don’t make more history. It’s enough. Nine is more than good. Today is not the moment to think about that. It’s the moment I have to be very happy.

“I’ve played a very good event, all the matches playing well. Today was not an exception. I started a little bit more nervous today than normal, but then I played well.

“It’s true that Dominic played with more mistakes than usual probably. At the same time it was windy out there, and he didn’t play on the centre court before that match. Probably that was not helping him.

“In general, to be in the final again here of probably the most important event in my career, it means a lot to me. I’m just very, very happy for every- thing, and I’m going to try my best on Sunday.”

Thiem went into the match fresh from his stunning upset of defending champion Novak Djokovic and looking for a second successive win against Nadal.

But Philippe Chatrier is the Spaniard’s stage and Thiem found Nadal a very different opponent to the one he met at the Italian Open in Rome last month.