Nadal breaks in the opening of the 3rd.
It’s a shocking statistic that no player born in the 90’s has won a Grand Slam. The likes of Federer in Australia pushing 36 and Nadal most likely on Sunday shouldn’t be winning Slams at their age.
Saw the first set of this and Thiem despite all his power was very one dimensional.
La Decima is on, mate.
Nadal has dropped only 29 games this tournament of the way to the final, he hasn’t lost a set.
That is phenomenal stuff.
I’d much rather he had Murray in the final as it would be a straightforward victory, Wawrinka is a very acclomplished clay player, a former Champion here and can be a spectacular player when the mood hits him but you would have to fancy Rafa to make history.
Its a remarkable turnaround in form for Nadal at 31 from a gruelling itinerary that’s just about unparalleled at that age. 10th tournaments so far in calendar year 2017 and he’s just made his 8th final.
Roger federar hadn’t won a grand slam in 5 years or the Aussie open in 7 years. Remarkable given he is never injured and it is very very rare somebody is competitive at 35 in tennis.
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Amazing from Rafa today
Don’t know why you’re bringing Roger Federer into this, but seen as you are, it should be noted that in 2016 Federer was a semi finalist in the two Grand Slams that he played in Australia (losing to Djokovic) and the Championship (losing to Raonic). Apart from an early exit in Australia in 2015, Federer reached the semi final in Australia every year from 2004-14. In 2015, Federer was a finalist at both the Championship and at the US Open (losing to Djokovic in both) and in 2014 Federer was a finalist at the Championship (losing to Djokovic) and a semi finalist in the US Open (losing to Cilic). Federer was the World Number 2 for most of 2014-16 and with the dip in Djokovic’s form was the most likely to capitalise in Melbourne, which he duly did.
Since winning the French Open in 2014, Nadal showed little or no form for over two and a half years. In the 8 Slams he played between French 2014 and prior to Australian 2017 Nadal made two quarter finals at Australia and Frernch in 2015 (losing both in straight sets) and exited before the quarter final in the other six Grand Slams in that period. I can’t think of another tennis player in his 30’s who has suddenly rediscovered his form at such a sustained level over a prolonged period of six months.
Because he was injured Geoff. It’s hard to show form when injured.
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He can’t have been that injured if he managed to play 8 of the 10 Grand Slams between the French 2014 and Australian 2017. In both 2015 & 2016, he played the South American clay court season (Argentina and Rio) the spring US hardcourt season (Miami and Indian Wells) and a full European clay court season (Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome)
He suffered a back injury in the 2014 Australian Open final against Wawrinka and had to withdraw mid tournament in last year’s French Open due to a wrist injury.
Nadal was probably guilty of pushing himself too much when trying to overcome injury, it’s great to have him back to a really high level. Nadal is the greatest tennis player of all time and he should be enjoyed by everyone for however long he has left.
It’s very dubious Geoff, this new peak he has hit after the prolonged absences and dips in form, very dubious.
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Some no mark from latvia has just won the Madames tournament at Roland Garros
Rafa takes the first set, 6-2.
Rafa takes the second set 6-3.
Has anybody ever won a grand slam without dropping a set?
I think it’s the lowest amount of games dropped ever in a 5 set grand slam tournament.
The greatest.
La Decima is about to be completed.
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10th French open. Remarkable.
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Unreal.
Beyond doubt now that Nadal is the greatest of all time.
It’s the greatest sporting comeback in history.
The GOAT
That is all
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