Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka will be squaring off for the 19th time in their careers when they collide in the French Open final on Sunday afternoon.
Nadal is dominating the head-to-head series 15-3, including 6-1 on clay and 1-0 at Roland Garros. Wawrinka, however, has won three of their last six meetings and he got the best of their only previous Grand Slam title match via a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 decision at the 2014 Australian Open. The two veterans have not faced each other since last spring, when Nadal cruised through a Monte-Carlo quarterfinal encounter 6-1, 6-4.
The fourth-ranked Spaniard triumphed at Monte-Carlo two months ago for his 10th title there, accomplished the same feat in Barcelona, and he is now bidding for No. 10 on the red clay of Paris. He also triumphed in Madrid. All of that has a resulted in a 23-1 clay-court record in 2017, with his lone blemish coming against Dominic Thiem in the Rome quarterfinals. Nadal avenged that defeat without any trouble on Friday, clobbering the 23-year-old Austrian 6-3, 6-4, 6-0. He preceded that victory by taking out Benoit Paire, Robin Haase, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Pablo Carreno Busta all without dropping a single set.
Three of the four semifinalists were perfect in total sets this fortnight prior to Friday: Nadal, Thiem, and Wawrinka. The third-ranked Swiss rolled over Jozef Kovalik, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Fabio Fognini, Gael Monfils, and Marin Cilic before running into serious trouble against Andy Murray. Wawrinka came within four points of a four-set defeat but eventually survived the longest match of the tournament to date 6-7(6), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-1 in four hours and 34 minutes. Less than three weeks ago he was just 16-8 overall in 2017, but he is now in the midst of a 10-match winning streak that also includes a clay-court title in Geneva.
“Stan won the last event in Geneva and now he’s in the final here,” Nadal commented. “So he’s [on] a good run. He’s in the final. So it’s the toughest opponent possible here.”
“I think to play Rafa on clay in French Open in a final is probably the biggest challenge you can have in tennis,” Wawrinka countered. “He’s the best player ever on clay. It’s for sure gonna be really difficult. But [at] the end of the day, it’s the final; the pressure is on both players. No one goes on the court thinking he has no pressure. We both want to win the title.”
The 32-year-old has apparently never felt such pressure, as he as a perfect 3-0 lifetime in major finals (2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, 2016 U.S. Open). But Nadal also has plenty of numbers going for him: he is 78-2 lifetime at the French Open with nine titles.
“Nine actually is my favorite number,” Nadal admitted after the semis. “But don’t get me wrong–I would prefer 10 over nine, no doubt.”
His preference will likely become reality on Sunday. The former world No. 1 bas been dominant at Roland Garros for more than a decade, has dominated this entire clay-court swing aside from one energy-deprived loss, and is extremely well-rested have lost a mere 29 games this whole tournament.
Pick: Nadal in 3
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Thank u God!!Everything seems clicking for Rafa today!!
Rafa is a bigger hitter than Stan. So much for those talking about Stan power.
Stan doing all the running…Rafa doing all the hitting.
WHAT WAS I SHOUTING!!! RAFA will totally impose his game and stan will be SUBDUED. Been saying this since forever!!!
Roger is clever to avoid this type of drubbing 😀 🙂
There goes the racquet & the 2nd set
Vamoooossss! ❤️❤️??
Stan of the semis turned up but a tired version. No 2014 or 2015 Stan here today.
Glad I didn’t pay big bucks to go watch it in Paris.
Man, what kind of insane level is this. All slams for the year wrapped up already.
Yes!!!There’s the break!!!Wooohooo!!
So Fed swept the HC swing, Rafa sweeps the clay swing.
What’s next??
Andy to sweep the grass swing and Nole to sweep the fall swing??? :):)
Novak is not coming back in time to sweep the fall swing.
Never say Never especially when the person in talk is an all time great 🙂
My predictions were correct, 5% chance of winning and 30% chance of winning a set. Maybe those percentages were a bit optimistic.
LOLOL
Rafa is potentially going to win the remaining 3 GS, this is back to 2008.
yes!!!FH DTL again!!Woohooo!!Love u Rafa!!
so who had doubts about the greatness of Rafa’s forehand???
Stan hasn’t brought his A game but holy moly was I wrong about Rafa. I thought he would be nervous. Obviously he is just so focused and totally bashing the ball. Too strong from Rafa. Didn’t expect this incredible of a performance from the king of clay. This is vintage stuff. I’m shocked Stan managed to win that game. Those two points Rafa won were freakishly good though.
0-30 now in Rafa’s serve.
What will the rankings be after this?
Rafa will be #2 and Stan will be #3 and Novak #4.
Rafa saved his best for the final.
Rafa hold!
wow Novak #4
Cheers.
I just know Rafa will be no.2
Woohohohoho!!FH clicking beautifully today Nny!!
MA,
I am getting emotional already. Trying to keep it together. I am just so proud of Rafa!
Nny!Relax,relax!…match not over yet!
FH winners…Rafa 13,stan 9 so far…
Think Rafa was a nut pissed about losing the AO final after being up a break in the 5th.
Brain cramp from Stan!
Haha!! Hahaha!! I see what you are trying to do there. Where is hawkeye when you need him
Rafa display tennis from outer space today!
Ooh I thought Rafa had that!
Rafa has gone to another level.
Rafa is trying to get that second break.
God, I am crying already. So much emotion. ?