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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Yes!!Break!!…Stan asked spectators their support and got it…but Rafa silenced it with his tennis!!Awesome!!!Woohoo!!!
Wow! Supreme, magic, magnificent Nadal!
Vamoooossss! ❤️
That’s the match. If Stan got that game he could’ve had a slight bit of momentum but Nadal defense is outrageous. 6-1 or 6-2 for Rafa. Likely 6-1.
I think we can see someone down to the ground and crying helplessly not for long now!!
MA,
I am already crying. I can’t hold back!
This is it!
Nny!!…U and your darling are soooooooo emotionale!!…I don’t know why!!…
Where are all the betting rookies saying they were gonna win big on Stan???? LOL. What a joke. you all do not even bet. If anyone wants to see how big I actually won on Rafa today, email me and i will gladly send you a screenshot.
Thanks tosser, that makes up for some of your losses the past few years
Well Stan can brag he got more games than another swiss got in 2008
LOL ?
I’ve been watching the match on a neighbour’s cinema sized TV. Rushed back home to join in the Tenngrand party!!!!!!!!!!
Speechless with excitement
I can’t stop crying.
Rafa I love you forever!
What a moment! I am just glad that I am here to see it!
Congrats, Rafa. Just too good.
YES!!!!!!!WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!I LOVE U RAFA!!!!!WOOOHOOOO!!!!
BELI5EVE IN HISTORY!!!..10 FO!!!!!!WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!
Nny!Nny!Nny!Nny!Nny!….Do u believe me now??????Woooohooooo!!!
Yessss! Vamosssss!
Love you, Genius! 10 ?
Love you Rafa! ❤️❤️❤️
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh woohooooooooooooooooooo
Fist pumps to all the Rafans. We have been through so much over the past three years.
YEAH vmk1!!….Wooooo!!
Rafa is the 10-time Roland Garros champion!!!!!!!!!!
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Vaaaaaaaaaamoooooooooos Rafa!!!!!!!!!!
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Here’s for u Nny!!…http://www.allgraphics123.com/graphics/hugs/hugs28.gif
MA,
Thanks for the virtual hug! It’s just sinking in now!
Hahahahahaha….Take your time Nny!….Take a deep breath…and inhale slowly okay?..Now..what the Astrologer’s said in the article?He said Rafa will blown stan away today right?And what a blown that is!!!Wooohoooo!!!
I think Murray would’ve done better today. Ah well, Nadal made amends for the AO title he should’ve eon this year.
Fed or Murray will win Wimbledon. Any of the top 5 could win the US Open.
LOL!!!
Agreed. Roger Murray and a healthy Kyrgios/Raonic are my favorites for Wimby. Rafa will probably be a bit gassed this grass season. He deserves a rest before Wimbledon. I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays no grass tournies before Wimbledon. Well deserved win for the king of clay. What a badass. Such a great moment for tennis. ?? ??
#laDecima
#GOAT
Rafa is crying too!
Was thinking of you early in the match and knew all was well when, in spite of the heat, there was no sweat pouring off Rafa. He was in complete control of his nerves. There was no way he was going to let C..B… get a look in today 🙂
I think Fed was the first guy who indicated after Miami that Rafa will stamp everyone on clay
Yep! Fed said it first!
And Nick was right! ?
Yes vmk, I sure remember what Fed said about Rafa and the clay season. Fed certainly knows Rafa so well to have said that! I’m very pleased about what Rafa has done this clay season, winning his 15th slam and breaks away from the tie with Sampras.
Sampras too had predicted that both Fed and Rafa would surpass him in the slam tally and he’s oh so right!
Congrats fellow Rafa fans! I knew Rafa would win it in straights. Disappointed though that he did not dish out a bagel!
RITB, it would be great if you could join in the celebrations!
Yes! I would love to see RITB here again!
Vamos Rafans! ❤️
I hope she is ok.
i’ve been wondering the same thing. She went off the air so suddenly.
I am at work, is it done? Folks is it done?
Yeah it’s done alright, everything but the trophy ceremony, Nadal won easily, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.
Ohhhh…ohhhhh…..ohhhhh…thanks TWD…the stale bread and warm juice are better than eating crow again.the last 2 hrs before the match start is like forever.
Yipee absolutely delighted, 10 and 15 🙂 ….