Highlights French Open 2018, Men's singles semi-finals: Rafael Nadal wins in straight sets, faces Dominic Thiem for 11th title

Here’s a quick recap of the matches from Day 13 of French Open:

Rafael Nadal improved to 11-0 in French Open semi-finals as he seeks his 11th title at the claycourt Grand Slam tournament, saving all seven break points he faced and overwhelming 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

The No. 1-ranked Nadal compiled a 35-20 edge in winners while making only 19 unforced errors.

Nadal saved three break points at 1-all in the opening set and another three at 4-all. After holding there, Nadal broke Del Potro to take that set and was on his way, taking 14 of the last 17 games.

This was the No. 5-seeded Del Potro’s first semi-final at Roland Garros since 2009. He missed the tournament every year from 2013-16 because of injuries, including three operations on his left wrist. In the fourth game, del Potro clutched at his left hip after being wrong-footed by one shot from Nadal and was visited by a doctor at the next changeover.

On Sunday, Nadal will face No. 7 seed Dominic Thiem, a 24-year-old Austrian who reached his first Grand Slam final by eliminating unseeded Marco Cecchinato in straight sets.

Thiem is the only player to beat Nadal on red clay over the past two seasons. Nadal is 49-0 against everyone else on his preferred surface in 2017 and 2018.

Del Potro fans, look away. These numbers are not flattering for the Argentine. 

An utterly dominant display from the defending champion and he will now play for his 11th French Open title.

Nadal saved all 7 break points faced and he has won 33 of 36 sets in Roland Garros semi-final matches. Also improves to 49-2 on clay in 2017-18 with only 2 losses coming to Thiem.

Most Grand Slam singles finals (men’s tour, all time top-5):

30 – Roger Federer

24 – Rafael Nadal

21 – Novak Djokovic

19 – Ivan Lendl

18 – Pete Sampras

So the stage is set for Sunday. Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem.

The undisputed King of Clay, 85-2 at Roland Garros vs the only player to have beaten Nadal on clay in the past two years.

Nadal is thrilled to reach the final again. 

Rafael Nadal is through to an 11th Roland Garros final with a  6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win against Juan Martin del Potro.

Nadal faces first-time Slam finalist Dominic Thiem in the title showdown.

This has turned out to a surprisingly one-sided match after that opening set.

Del Potro holds for 5-2 but now Nadal will come out to serve for the match and a place in the final.

Nadal gets a double break in the third set as well. 4-1

Just two more games and the World No 1 will have reached his 11th Roland Garros final.

And then Nadal holds at love to jump ahead 2-0. 

Del Potro is putting up very little resistance and the Spaniard is walking all over him.

Del Potro gets broken at the very start of the third set. 

His body language has gotten worse as this match has progressed and it looks like there is no fight left in him. 

This match could be over very soon.

Ruthless efficiency from Nadal. He’s saved all the seven break points he faced.

Rafael Nadal takes the second set 6-1 in just 42 minutes.

The Spaniard is one set away from his 11th French Open final.

Del Potro finally gets on the board in the second set. 5-1.

The Argentine gets the crowd going after saving two break points and ending Nadal’s run of games won in a row at seven. 

But the Spaniard will now serve for a 2-0 lead.

Nadal breaks Del Potro for the third straight game and has won six games in a row. 

He leads 6-4, 4-0 and it’s all one-way traffic at the moment. Del Potro making too many errors now and is getting killed every time he makes a backhand slice.

Nadal breaks and consolidates for a 3-0 lead in the second set.

It’s all going the Spaniard’s way at the moment. Del Potro needs to quickly refocus if he wants to extend this match for long. 

Del Potro did have a break point in the third game of the set, but as has been the case in this match so far, he couldn’t convert it.

De Potro is now 0/7 on break points in this semi-final. And that cost him dearly.

Take a look at the stats from the  first set. Nadal hit 4 more winners but overall won just one point more than Del Potro. 

Just way too many wasted opportunities from Del Potro. Not many people get so many against Nadal.

Rafael Nadal takes the first set over Juan Martin del Potro 6-4 in 54 minutes.

A tight set where Nadal saved six break points but ultimately did enough to win it.

Nadal breaks to win the first set, 6-4.

The Spaniard makes Del Potro pay for all his missed chances and brings up two set points on the Argentine’s serve.

One set point saved by Del Potro with a booming forehand into the corner that Nadal can only send long. 

On the second set point, Del Potro dumps his backhand into the net and the first set goes Nadal’s way. 6-4.

Break points saved:

Nadal 6/6

Del Potro 0/0

HUGE hold from Nadal after saving three break points! 5-4.

Nadal saved the first with a deft volley, then Del Potro overhit an easy forehand to bring the game to deuce. On his third break point of the game, Del Potro missed a forehand on the run.

Then Nadal comes up with a superb point at the net to hold for 5-4. 

Del Potro has had so many opportunities and yet he finds himself serving to stay alive in the opening set.

An easy hold for Nadal for a change and then Del Potro follows that up with a love-hold. It’s 4-4 in the opening set.

Del Potro seems physically fine at the moment. Business end of the first set coming up.

Del Potro just takes some pills from the trainer and then resumes with his service game. No treatment for his thigh or groin area. 

Nadal gets to 40-30 during Del Potro’s game but a booming serve helps him hold for 3-3.

And the trainer is out for Del Potro.

Let’s hope that the injury/pain isn’t too bad for the Argentine.

Nadal stays on serve, 3-2.

Nadal playing smart and making Del Potro move as much as possible. From 0-30, he plays two dropshots with Del Potro caught far too behind the baseline and wins both the points. Del Potro doesn’t even attempt running for them.

Nadal once again erases a 0-30 deficit on his serve and holds.

Del Potro holds for 2-2 and looks like he has called for the trainer over the change of ends. 

At 30-30, A thunderous serve from Del Potro brings up game point, and he converts that with a forehand winner up the line. Still doesn’t look too comfortable out there, but at least he’s stayed on serve for now.

This does not look good.

Nadal saves three break points, holds from 0-40 down.

Bit of a scare already as Del Potro got his footwork twisted up and grimaced while reaching for his leg. He hobbled back to his chair after that game.

Del Potro holds at love! 1-1.

While I was talking about his backhand, Del Potro shows why his forehand is one of the best shots in the sport. 

Clean hitting, huge forehands and big serves to hold his first game.

Bit of a nervy start from Nadal?

He drops the first two points due to unforced errors but then wins four consecutive points to hold from 0-30 in the first game of the match. 1-0.

It will be interesting to see how Del Potro’s backhand holds up in this match. Nadal will look to attack it at every opportunity.

Ready? Play!

Nadal to serve first to get the semi-final match underway.

Both Nadal and Del Potro are out on court and are warming up!

We are minutes away from the start of this match.

Ten-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is up against 5th Juan Martin del Potro. 

Del Potro is looking to make his first Roland Garros final but trails 5-9 in the head-to-head against Nadal. The Spaniard has won both their matches played on clay.

Time for the second semi-final!

Here’s a quick recap of Thiem’s win:

Dominic Thiem reached his first Grand Slam final and ended the surprising French Open run of 72nd-ranked Marco Cecchinato of Italy.

The No. 7-seeded Thiem beat Cecchinato 7-5, 7-6 (10), 6-1 in the semi-finals Friday.

It was the Austrian’s third consecutive appearance in the semi-finals at Roland Garros. He lost at this stage to eventual champions Novak Djokovic in 2016 and Rafael Nadal in 2017.

This time, Thiem instead faced Cecchinato, who never had won a Grand Slam match until this tournament and was the lowest-ranked men’s semi-finalist at the clay-court major in 19 years. Cecchinato was accused of match-fixing and suspended for 18 months in 2016, but he appealed, and his punishment was dropped on a technicality.

In Sunday’s final, Thiem will face either No. 1 Nadal or No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro. 

Thiem is the only man to defeat 10-time French Open champion Nadal on clay this season.

Take a look at the final numbers from Thiem’s win!

Stat time!

Aged 24 years and 280 days, Dominic Thiem becomes the youngest Roland Garros finalist since Rafael Nadal (24 years, 3 days) won the title in Paris in 2010.

Thiem will be hoping to emulate Muster on Sunday.

Dominic Thiem is though to his first Grand Slam final!

Thiem defeats Marco Cecchinato 7-5, 7-6(10), 6-1 and now awaits the winner of Nadal-Del Potro.

Thiem holds to win the match!

Not so fast, says Cecchinato as he brings up two break points on Thiem’s serve. But the Austrian saves both.

A good serve out wide from Thiem brings up match point. 

And Thiem wins the match by putting away the ball at the net.

Just 15 minutes into the third set and Thiem has raced away to a 5-0 lead.

He will now serve for a place in the French Open final.

Thiem breaks again for 4-0!

Too many unforced errors from Cecchinato. Losing the tie-break has had the opposite effect on the Italian and he has completely lost his focus.

He gets broken to love and now Thiem has a 4-0 lead. He is running away with the third set and can almost see the finish line.

Exquisite from Thiem!

Thiem takes control of the third set by breaking early and then consolidates for 3-0.

Winning that tight tie-break seems to have given the 7th seed a fresh wave of confidence. 

Can Cecchinato fight back to extend this match?

Thiem’s first serve percentage has been poor but he won the points that mattered the most.

Gutsy play from Thiem despite forgoing three set points early in the tie-break at 6-3.

After battling for an hour and 54 minutes, Dominic Thiem has a two-sets-to-love lead over Marco Cecchinato. 7-5, 7-6(10).

The Austrian is just one set away from reaching his maiden Grand Slam final.

What an epic tie-break from both players! 

Thiem saves four set points and then converts on his fifth to win it 12-10.

Love-hold for Thiem as Cecchinato makes some very basic errors on his return. 6-6.

And we are going into a tie-break to decide this second set!

Cecchinato’s first serve percentage by set

1st set: 80%

2d set: 80%

This is the reason why this match has been such a close affair!

Love-hold for Cecchinato! He leads 6-5 and this set will at least see a tie-break.

The Italian’s kick serve in the ad court has been tremendously effective in this tournament. 

Thiem once again serving to keep this second set alive.

Thiem relieved to hold without much fuss for 5-5.

Cecchinato hit a beautiful slice in this game for the only point that he won. But now the pressure is back on the Italian.

Credit to Thiem for finally realising he needs to change his return strategy. 

Cecchinato digs up a massive hold for 5-4.

Thiem has deuce on Cecchinato’s serve. Big chance here! 

Cecchinato fires a well-placed serve that clips the line and makes it awkward for Thiem to return. Advantage to the Italian!

On the next point, Thiem constructs an excellent rally, forces his opponent wide and then comes forward to win the point with a putaway at the net. Deuce again. 

An unforced error from Thiem and he yells out in frustration. He senses that this is a huge opportunity and is mad at himself for not making the most of it. 

Cecchinato wins the next point to escape with a hold. Thiem will now serve to stay alive in the second set at 4-5.

No breaks of serve in the second set yet. 4-4.

Been a way more straightforward affair and the next 10 minutes could determine the fate of this match.

Thiem’s return position on court

A quick love-hold from Thiem makes it 3-3 in the second set.

Cecchinato then drops just one point on his serve to edge ahead 4-3.

*nods in agreement* 

Cecchinato saves two break points and then holds with yet another drop shot. 3-2.

Thiem is getting caught far too behind the baseline and has been caught off guard almost every time by the Italian.

It’s on serve in the second set at 2-2.

Thiem is serving well, Cecchinato is pulling off some ridiculous drop shots and the beautiful one-handed backhands continue to flow.

Take a look at the numbers from the opening set. Very little to separate the two players. 

In a tight first set, Dominic Thiem prevails 7-5 after 46 minutes.

Two splendid games from the 7th seed at the end of the opener helped him win it.

Thiem takes the first set, 7-5.

Thiem starts off his service game with an ace down the tee. 15-0. 

A forehand into the net makes it 15-15. But he comes up with a solid serve out wide that Cecchinato can’t return in court to make it 30-15. 

Thiem serves and volleys on the next point and wins it with a gorgeous touch at the net. Two set points, 40-15. 

Another BIG serve down the tee and he holds to win the first set 7-5.

Thiem breaks for 6-5 and will now serve for the opening set.

Absolutely brilliant game from Dominic to take the lead again. Started off with a return volley that just fell over the net, a couple of big groundstokes and a forehand winner help him break.

After dropping three straight games, Thiem finally stops the bleeding with a good hold. 5-5. 

His second serve is holding up well and even though he makes an absolutely unnecessary error at the net at 40-0, he holds on the next point. 

The next couple of games will be very crucial for this match.

Cecchinato breaks back and the consolidates at love to lead 5-4.

What a quick turnaround from the Italian. Thiem’s timing on his groundstrokes seems to have deserted him and Cecchinato has taken full advantage.

A couple of quick holds from both players and it’s 4-2 in the first set.

After that early break, Cecchinato has steadied himself and is serving well. He has hit a few exquisite volleys to take his opponent by surprise.

Read our preview of the men’s singles semi-finals in the link below.

Cecchinato is the first Italian man in 40 years to reach a Grand Slam semi-final after stunning 12-time major winner Djokovic in last-eight while Thiem is into his third semi-final at Roland Garros.

French Open 2018: Rafael Nadal faces Juan Martin del Potro in blockbuster semi-final; Dominic Thiem takes on giant-killing Marco Cecchinato – Firstposthttps://www.firstpost.com

Who do you think will win?

Thiem breaks in the very first game!

Great start fro the 7th-seeded Austrian as he makes some fantastic returns to break for 1-0.

First up, it’s Dominic Thiem vs Marco Cecchinato on Court Philippe Chatrier.

This is the first meeting between the two players. Both are aiming to make their first Grand Slam final.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of French Open!

It’s Day 13 of the claycourt Grand Slam which features the two men’s semi-finals.

Seventh seed Dominic Thiem faces World No 72 Marco Cecchinato while 10-time champion Rafael Nadal takes on fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro.

Stay tuned as we bring you live scores and regular updates from the courts of Roland Garros.