As expected, Rafael Nadal made mostly routine work of his relatively soft quarter at Roland Garros. That could change during championship weekend, when his path to the title begins with Juan Martin Del Potro and potentially ends with Dominic Thiem.
Nadal and Del Potro will be facing each other for the 15th time in their careers when they clash in the French Open semifinals on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 9-5 in favor of the Spaniard, who has gone up against Del Potro only twice on clay and predictably won both of those meetings (7-5, 6-3, 6-2 at the 2007 French Open and 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6(0) with home-court advantage in the 2011 Davis Cup final). Del Potro had been on a two-match winning streak at Nadal’s expense before falling 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in the 2017 U.S. Open semis.
The Argentine’s second appearance in the Roland Garros semis looked far from a sure thing prior to the beginning of this fortnight, and not just because clay a less favorable surface for him than a hard court. Following a brilliant hard-court stretch with titles in Acapulco and Indian Wells plus a semifinal showing in Miami, Del Potro retired from a Rome third-round match against David Goffin due to a groin injury.
Simply showing up in Paris was in doubt for the 2009 U.S. Open champion, and things did not look good when he dropped his opening set 6-1 to Nicolas Mahut. But it all turned around for Del Potro thereafter, as he made his way through the second section of the bracket by beating Mahut, Julien Benneteau, Albert Ramos-Vinolas, John Isner, and Marin Cilic.
The world No. 6 has dropped two sets (the other to Cilic on Thursday), while Nadal donated his first to Diego Schwartzman early in their quarterfinal on Wednesday. An overnight rain delay allowed the 10-time champion to regroup, and he did just that–roaring back for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory. Nadal preceded that results with wins over Simone Bolelli, Guido Pella, Richard Gasquet, and Maximilian Marterer while improving to 24-1 on clay in 2018 and 84-2 lifetime at the French Open.
“He’s lefty and [as I said] before my match against Ramos, a lefty player has advantage with me because he can find easily my backhand and he knows what my backhand is at the moment,” Del Potro explained. “But anyways, I will try to do my best–to play my best tennis and see if I can do a good match. I have nothing to lose tomorrow. We’ll see what can I do against the King of Clay.”
The fifth seed needed to play three full sets against Cilic on Thursday, so his his tank may not be completely on full for this one. At least for a while, though, that may not terrible thing for Del Potro because he will be forced to implement the correct strategy against Nadal: serve big, hit aggressive second-serve returns, and go for huge, high-risk shots early in rallies.
That may pay off briefly for a red-hot underdog, but a best-of-five situation on clay against Nadal is likely too tough of a task–especially with zero days off.
Pick: Nadal in 4
[polldaddy poll=10025190]
That’s our boy! Two more like that please!!!!!
Rafa is a tactician, no ifs, no buts.
Vamos!
Yes, Rafa has a BP and SP and he takes it! Vamos!
A scary set of tennis when Rafa having to save BPs in so many service games; it’s such a tight set and Rafa barely wins it and he has 31 points vs Delpo’s 30!
And thank u God for giving us sun & brighty day today!!Less problem for Rafa!…Whoooo!!
Yes! The weather has cooperated!
Yes Nny!!…let’s hope it will stay that way for at least 1 1/2 hrs!
Very proud of Rafa!!😀
Now I feel that Rafa is peaking. He really sensed the opportunity to go for the break.
The key was Rafa holding his serve throughout the first set.
Delpo looks pooped. Losing the first set like that may well dent his confidence plus he has some physical problems too.
Del Potro is not pulling the trigger well enough today. Can’t win.
Conditions are perfect for Nadal.
Wooohoooo!!BREAK!!!
Hope Rafa doesn’t take his foot of the pedal now. He must keep the pressure up.
GOD!…It’s very tiring to fill my name & email add everytime i wanna post my comment!!It’s BS!!!
Mira, go to the top of the page:
REGISTER/LOGIN
and login again.
Oh really Nadline?Oh!Thank u so much for telling me that nadline!!Wooohooo!!
I’m going now!!
MA,
Yes, nadline is right. I logged in again and it worked. Try it.
Nny!….I am trying!..But so far it didn’t worked!Hehehe…
It’s always comeback with ‘Invalid username”…And i use my username here…I don’t know what’s wrong??
Maybe the login is not working atm, keep trying. This site has a few glitches.
Oh!Thank u nadline!Yeah!..I will keep trying!
Del Potro is not using his strengths to his advantage.
Talk about a statement of the obvious. If you bothered to read this thread you would know why.
Rafa is playing clutch tennis. He seems so confident in his abilities.
Vamos Rafa!
Nadal has finally hit his stride. It’s over 😂 #RIPThiem
I agree about Rafa hitting his stride. Comparing him in this match to the first set and a half of the one with Diego and there is a world of difference.
Delpo should have won that first set, but Rsfa hung in there and got the break at the end to win it. Now he is in full flight, but has to keep it up.
Rafa is ruthless. Great to see.
Vamos!
This is what I have been waiting to see from Rafa. We saw it yesterday in the last two sets of that match. Now Rafa has continued.
Delpo avoids the bagel.
At least delpo has been spared the indignity of being bagelled.
Del Potro is getting his arse handed to him.
The crowd here are as annoying as you guys.
Vamos Rafas every second like he’s related.
Vamos rafa!!!
hee, hee Vmk1. Priceless!
Vamos Rafa
Not half as annoying as your trolling!
Vamos Rafa
Listening to commentators, you’d think tennis was an exact science. Wilander is saying why can’t Delpo beat Rafa 62 62 62 like he did at the USO in 2009? Leaving aside the fact that Rafa was playing with an abdominal tear, tennis is not an exact science. It’s not like predicting the winner of a race, lasting about 10 seconds like the 100 meters, which would more than likely be the person who has run the fastest time consistently. Tennis is far more complex. What happened last time they played doesn’t really matter as much the next time they play.
I cant believe he actually even said that! Seriously?!!
I tell u they all sound soo disappointed!! I Rafa gets to the final, u will hear them say more! They all just want somebody to beat Rafa!! Not hearing that sentiment about Roger when it comes to Roger, smh!! Its just so annoying!!