On Friday, nine-time champion Rafael Nadal will face sixth seed Dominic Thiem for a place in the Roland Garros final.
Thiem is the only player to defeat Rafa on clay this season and sealed a return to the last four in Paris with a sensational 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-0 upset of defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Neither Rafa nor Thiem have dropped a set in reaching the last four, with our champ losing just 22 games through five matches.
Date: June 9, 2017
Match time: [UPDATED] Rafa is second on court Philippe Chatrier. Not before 3:30 PM local time / 9:30 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 2:30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 3:30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11:30 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Thiem:
Thiem is a tough player. I won in Barcelona, Madrid, and I lost to him in Rome. So either you play well and you advance to the next round or you lose and you’re out.
In Rome it was not a good day for me. I was not in a position to play well the way I wanted to. He put me in a difficult situation, so it’s up to me to avoid being put in uncomfortable situations.
He’s a very good player. He hits the ball very hard. He’s very powerful on both sides. Forehand, backhand, serve. These weapons are quite good. He has a huge potential to tap, and he can hit the ball very hard. He doesn’t give you a lot of options.
Thiem on playing Rafa:
I think on Friday is coming the toughest opponent ever here in Roland Garros. Gonna be the fourth match against him in, like, five or six weeks. Not really big secrets. Well, he’s again in his best shape. So it’s going be the toughest match that you can imagine.
Since the beginning of 2016, they’ve faced off five times (all on clay), with Rafa winning three and Thiem two. It was the Austrian who emerged victorious in their last meeting, however, winning 6-4 6-3 in Rome three weeks ago.
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Dominic Thiem |
64 63 |
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
768 64 |
| 2017 | Barcelona Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal |
64 61 |
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
75 63 |
| 2016 | Buenos Aires Argentina |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Dominic Thiem |
64 46 764 |
| 2014 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R64 | Rafael Nadal |
62 62 63 |
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Sources: Roland Garros, AFP
Just remember one thing ‘ CLAY BELONGS TO YOU ONLY YOU.
Vamos LA DECIMA all the way
NEW HEADLINE:
WHAT TIME DID RAFAEL NADAL BEAT DOMINIC THIEM?
RAFA ROCKS
Congratulations Rafa , I’m over the moon that you have secured yourself a place once again in another final. Stan the Man has been playing great but he is no competition for the king of Clay . The trophy is yours if you want it . Sunday can’t come soon enough ( live FO starts 1.30 pm in UK) Loved the pic on Instagram of the kids from your Academy sending you strength, keep them in mind when you walk out on the court on Sunday and show them that dreams really can come true. 🇪🇸
This is soooooo beautiful, Maria.Never knew you had a scintilla of poetic inclinations, uuh.
Almost moving me to tears………………….Vamossss Rafa, it’s about time to kick Stan’s ass in the final of a GS.
Stan has a 100% record in his 3 previous slam finals, so will he win again this time???
Maria (Siberia), my great old Aunt, predicts a super grinder of a result in Rafa’s favour: 6-2, 8-1, 6-1. Now, we all know that my Aunt Maria (Siberia) has never ever been wrong before, don’t we? Sp, there you have it, the La Decimal on Sunday!
Let the music play, let the celebration begin now!!!!!!!!!!
But as always, we’d see………………hmmmn
Send your great old Aunt my warmest wishes, glad to see her great sense of humour has rubbed of on you. Lol . Can’t wait for all your cousin’s to pop up I’m guessing they might be called Maria Hmnnnn…..
Send your great old Aunt my warmest wishes, glad to see her great sense of humour has rubbed of on you. Lol .
Maria snake island – your great aunt? Oh that’s just fantastic. Lol. I see she’s maybe losing her touch a little though – 8 – 1 for the 2nd set. Surely that cannot be right? But we will see
IT IS a FANTASTIC 3 : 0 3RD SET LEAD SWEETHEART & YOU ARE BRILLIANT & PASSIONATE & SO BEAUTIFULLY SKILLFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Once more, Mac & Mary are stuffing their freeking selves with SILENCE……………………..: ) GOSH……THIS IS SUCH A GREAT SEMI……and WE LOVE YOUR FIGHTING FOR EACH BALL BRILLIANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) TRUST WE ARE CHEERING JOYFULLY YOUR BEAUTIFUL MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 : ) : ) 🙂 FOR GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 🙂 : ) : ) IT IS NOW 4 : 0 BLESS YOUR HEART DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE EARNING IT ALL WITH YOUR STRENGTHS & INSTINCTS & MIGHTY TENNIS FEISTY GIFTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) ) 🙂 : ) YOU ARE OUR GOAT AND EVERY TENNIS’ S FAN GOAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 🙂 : ) : ) AS I AM HERE YOU JUST BROKE tired T ONCE MORE…….LEADING BLISSFULLY 5 : 0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ci…….ci……..ci……..ci…….ci………ci……..& CI…….. LETS SEE If you bagel him sweetheart, I will buy SIX BAGELS & BUTTER & STRAWBERRY JAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 🙂 XOXOXOXOXOXO VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE BETTER THAN ANY PLAYER AROUND……YOU HAVE THAT EXTRA GIFTED INSTINCT & FORTITUDE…..AND IT IS OBVIOUS YOU HAVE THE GOD’S GIVEN TALENT THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY & BLESSED BEYOND WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU CAN ENJOY ALL THIS POINT BY POINT BEAUTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS MATCH POINT SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXO
YOU WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : );) 🙂 : ) VAMOS CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS CHAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
AMAAAAAZING!!!!!
FABULOSO!!!!!!!!!!
FORMIDABLE!!!!!!!
EXTRAORDINAIRE!!!!!!
RAFA ROCKS
Rafael Nadal – the only man not to drop a set during the tournament on the way to the final. Very well done indeed!!
Yes – Looking goood 😍 Almost there champ. You’re playing AMAZING 😃👍🏻
VAMOS RAFA 🎾💪🏼❤️🍀
YES🤗🎾👑😂👍👏😄😄
I made my case for a Rafa win. Margo has spoken…LOL
RAFA ROCKS
WOW…………………………………WOW………………………………….WOW……………………………….BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) YOUR CLASSY TENNIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL & SOLID & WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 🙂 : ) : )
GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) YOU HAVE SUCH COURT INTELLIGENCE THAT IS INCREDIBLY POWERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 ; )
YOU ARE MASTERFULLY LEADING 6 : 3 6 : 4 & IT IS MAGICAL FOR YOUR ADORING FANS & THE FRENCH CROWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL FIGHT SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!: ) : ) : ) : ) THAT”S ALL………KEEP ENJOYING & HAVE LOTS OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) LOVE YOUR FEISTY RETURNS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXO WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 : ) YOUR TENNIS IS A GIFT FOR ALL TENNIS SPECTATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) ci……ci……ci……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )_ LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
Excellent work rafa. 1 more to go. But i still wont fully relax until it’s in the bag. But as Maria says – it’s going much better than I imagined. Just goes to show when Dominic beat rafa in rome, rafa was tired. This, so far, is a hard lesson for Dominic
I almost couldn’t sleep last night, Susie. And it’s strange I didn’t feel tired at all today. All so worthwhile. 😸 Pls send a kiss from me to your dear Raffy 😽.
Will do Rainer. What a fabulous day!!
Rafa, your flying through these sets, this is going way better than I dared imagine . Finish it off now in one more set.
aH….I LOVE YOU YOU BROKE T AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) leading 2:1 2nd set!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) SO GREAT & EXCITING TO HEAR OLD JOHN MC & OLD MARY DEAD SILENCE …..LOVE IT…… THEIR COVERAGE IS OLD & LACK INSPIRATION…….RAFA SWEETHEART YOU ARE GLIDING & SLIDING & WINNING WITH YOUR MAGNIFICENT PASSIONATE TENNIS…..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) KEEP UP THE GREAT SOLID COMMAND SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) T APPEARS TO LOSE HIS ZEST….& SEEMS TIRED ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) 🙂 LOVE YOU RAFA…….GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) AND IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NET……YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ; : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL HOLD SWEETHEART with YOUR EFFECTIVE SERVE GAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 GOD BLESS YOU DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) ENJOY IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXO
VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) a set at a time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) 6:3……beautiful feisty lead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) I LOVE HOW YOU EARNESTLY FIGHTING FOR EACH POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) 😉 : ) : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE YOU SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU LOOK BRILLIANT OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) KEEP UP THE MAGIC SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE HONOR EACH & EVERY POINT YOU PLAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) GREAT SERVE GAMES TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXO
C’mon rafa show Dominic who is the boss. 1st set down and two to go!
Yeah Susie. Rafa needs to take this match in 3. Otherwise they will have to continue tomorrow. 🙁
Brilliant first set Rafa, you mean business and are going all out to make sure there is no repeat performance of your last match up with Thiem. More of the same in the next set please.