In what was expected to be a close encounter between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro at the French Open Semifinal turned out to be exactly the opposite. Nadal thrashed the Argentine to win the match in straight sets: 6-4,6-1,6-2. The win takes him to his 11th French Open final.
With that win, he becomes the only player after Roger Federer to reach one particular Grand Slam’s final 11 times. At his 24th Grand Slam final on Sunday, he will face Dominic Thiem, who earlier defeated the Italian, Marco Cechhinato. Thiem is the only player to have beaten Nadal in two years at clay and it’ll be interesting how he handles the challenge this time.
This was del Potro’s first semifinal appearance at a Grand Slam since making a comeback after his injury three years ago. He forced multiple break points in the first set, but was unable to convert even one of them. While the first set was closely matched, Nadal dominated entirely in the subsequent sets to thrash his opponent.
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Naturally, a performance like this earns a lot of appreciation and credit from fans over social media. This is how Twitter reacted to Nadal’s thumping win at the French Open semifinal:
Its been a great 2 weeks for delpo getting to a semi final for the fifth time in a grand slam and getting back into the top 5 but nadal was just to strong and he should win it on sunday now! #RG18
— Kiefer Kirtland (@KieferKirtland) June 8, 2018
#Nadal through to another @rolandgarros final. 🎾
He’s already won the #FrenchOpen 10 times 😲
Can anyone think of a more dominant sports person or team in a specific Major?#Tennis #RolandGarros
— Samantha Quek (@SamanthaQuek) June 8, 2018
"I’ll feel so lucky to be back in the final here."
Nadal remains unbeaten in semifinal matches at Roland-Garros.#RG18 pic.twitter.com/gjgrglogZH
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2018
Couldn't have asked for a better French Open final match-up. Rafa Nadal vs Dominic Thiem. Let's go!!! pic.twitter.com/q3galvT1rB
— Dust_Img (@dust_img) June 8, 2018
.@ThiemDomi is the only person to have beaten @RafaelNadal on clay this season. Will he do it again?
Nadal shares his thoughts ahead of Sunday's huge final. #RG18 pic.twitter.com/Un7sJwUmr6
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) June 8, 2018
MOST GRAND SLAM FINALS (Men, Open Era)
30 – Roger Federer
24 – Rafael Nadal
21 – Novak Djokovic
19 – Ivan Lendl
18 – Pete Sampras#RG18 pic.twitter.com/KvCSOPvJHT— ITF (@ITF_Tennis) June 8, 2018
Rafa Nadal is 414-36 on clay in career. Reached his 24th Slam final. He's 6-3 over Thiem, who owns most W this year at ATP level. Del Potro crushed but after 4 yrs he came back to his highest rank at n.4. Could climb into top3 before US Open
— alex mastroluca (@mastrale) June 8, 2018
Defeating Nadal in #RolandGarros has to be one of the greatest challenges in sport history #RG18
— Alvaro Verdu (@AlvaroVerdu4) June 8, 2018
What a joke, this match is. Nadal just slammed the over-rated Del Potro in the most humilaiting manner #RG18
— Hassan Rizvy (@hassanrizvii) June 8, 2018
Guess who is trending worldwide~~💪💪💪🎾#Nadal pic.twitter.com/ZyEXkcuvKn
— mona~ (@Mounaee) June 8, 2018
He really is something else.. #Nadal #rolandgaros #11
— Janine Curran (@JanineCurran) June 8, 2018
Martina talking about Rafa: "We will never see this again, another Nadal….unparalleled."
— JB (@Minerva2BC) June 8, 2018
Reminder: Nadal is undefeated in the French Open finals 💯 pic.twitter.com/RQgHQcaXEN
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 8, 2018
Nadal 6-4, 3-0.
Del Potro 0/7 on break points.
Nadal 2/3
Tennis is fascinating
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 8, 2018
Since the Open era began in 1968, only two men have reached 11 finals at the same Grand Slam tournament: Federer (Wimbledon) & Nadal (French Open). Seems oh so appropriate.
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) June 8, 2018
Post match, this is what Nadal had to say: “The first set was very difficult. Juan Martin had a lot of opportunities and I was a little bit lucky to win it. It’s incredible to play here. I feel very fortunate to play in front of this crowd. Without working hard and without going through tough moments and without still being focused on your passion of the game, it is impossible to be here. Still being here is something I never dreamed about. Dominic Thiem is an amazing player. He beat me in Madrid this year and he has great power. I have to play my best. I have to improve a little bit. I believe I can be ready for that final. It’s going to be a tough one but I will fight all the way.”
Relentless. Ruthless. Dominant. Whichever adjective you want to use.
Rafa Nadal beats Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to reach his 11th French Open final. pic.twitter.com/wB0EUhYmZd
— SI Tennis (@SI_Tennis) June 8, 2018
Rafael Nadal has reached the French Open final in:
2005
2006
2007
2008
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2017
2018Truly incredible.
— bet365 (@bet365) June 8, 2018
Nadal's Grand Slam Finals
Australian Open – 4
Roland Garros – 11
Wimbledon – 5
US Open – 4— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 8, 2018
Six down, one to go! 👑 Rafael Nadal will look to win his 17th Grand Slam title on Sunday after beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 at the French Open. 👏💪🎾 Next up: Dominic Thiem. Vamos por la undécima! 🔥🔥 (AFP) pic.twitter.com/6VbhFVhpSJ
— Rafael Nadal Fans (@RafaelNadalFC) June 8, 2018
#RG18 final:
Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem, the only guy to beat him on clay in the last two years.
It's what we deserve.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 8, 2018
Rafael Nadal now in his 24th Grand Slam final. Only Roger Federer has been in more (30).
His record in a GS final – won 16, lost 7 (70%)
in #AusOpen 1-3 (25%)
at #RolandGarros 10-0 (100%)
at #Wimbledon 2-3 (40%)
in #USOpen 3-1 (75%)#FrenchOpen #FrenchOpen2018— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 8, 2018
This fellow Nadal…. quite simply…. a god on clay!
— Rahul Ravindran (@23_rahulr) June 8, 2018
There have been a few tennis players greater than Nadal, and more than a few who were more graceful. But surely none better at staying in a point, a game, a set, a match. His spirit is indomitable.
— Ramachandra Guha (@Ram_Guha) June 8, 2018
85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2, 85-2
Nadal's career record at Roland Garros bears repeating— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) June 8, 2018
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Rafael Nadal is in the French Open final for the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11th time in his career. Amazing.
— Tom Perrotta (@TomPerrotta) June 8, 2018
GAME, SET, MATCH 👊
Rafa Nadal reaches his 11th French Open final
The King of Clay beats Juan Martin Del Potro 6/4, 6/1, 6/2 #RG18 pic.twitter.com/aqVjsPcTUK
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) June 8, 2018
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