The final of the men’s singles tournament at Roland Garros 2018 between defending champion Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem will take place on Sunday on Court Philippe Chatrier at Stade Roland Garros.
Date: June 10, 2018
Match time: 3 PM local time / 9 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 2 PM BST – United Kingdom / 3 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11 PM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on playing Thiem:
He’s an amazing player. He beat me this year in Madrid. He has big power, he’s playing with big confidence. I know I have to play at my best. I believe I can be ready for that final. It’s going to be a tough one.
If I play well, I normally have my chances. If I don’t play well, it will be almost impossible, because I play against a player that’s going too well.
Thiem on playing Rafa:
He’s a big favourite against everybody. Still, I know how to play against him. I have a plan.
I’m also aware that here it’s tougher. He likes the conditions more here than in Madrid, for sure. Best-of-five is also different story. I think also a good thing is that I faced him already twice here.
Rafa’s route to the final:
R1: 6-4 6-3 7-6 Bolelli R2: 6-2 6-1 6-1 Pella R3: 6-3 6-2 6-2 Gasquet R4: 6-3 6-2 7-6 Marterer QF: 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 Schwartzman SF: 6-4 6-1 6-2 Del Potro
Thiem’s route to the final:
R1: 6-2 6-4 6-1 Ivashka R2: 6-2 2-6 6-4 6-4 Tsitsipas R3: 6-3 6-7 6-3 6-2 Berrettini R4: 6-2 6-0 5-7 6-4 Nishikori QF: 6-4 6-2 6-1 Zverev SF: 7-5 7-6 6-1 Cecchinato
Two of their nine matches have come at Roland Garros, and Rafa has won both of them, including a straight-sets defeat during last year’s semi-finals.
The Austrian has earned the tag the Prince of Clay in recent times and he came into Roland-Garros as the only player to have beaten Rafa on clay this season – the second straight year that’s been the case – having ended Rafa’s 21-match win streak on the surface in the Madrid quarter-finals last month.
| Year | Event | Surface | RND | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Dominic Thiem | |
| 2018 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Italy |
Outdoor Clay | QF | Dominic Thiem | |
| 2017 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2017 | Barcelona Spain |
Outdoor Clay | F | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo Monaco |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal | |
| 2016 | Buenos Aires Argentina |
Outdoor Clay | SF | Dominic Thiem | |
| 2014 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R64 | Rafael Nadal |
- Rafa will attempt to become the first player in the Open Era (since April 1968) to win 11 titles at three different tour-level events, having won his 11th titles at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters earlier this year.
- At 32 years 7 days, Rafa is bidding to become the 4th man in the Open Era to win 3 or more Grand Slams titles after turning 30. Federer, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall are the only men in the Open Era to have won 3 or more Grand Slam titles after turning 30.
- Rafa has a 16-7 win-loss record in Grand Slam finals, going into today’s match – but has won all 10 Roland Garros finals he has contested.
- He is bidding to win his 57th career clay court title. By winning his 50th clay court title at 2017 Monte Carlo-1000, he set an Open Era record for the most career clay court titles ahead of Vilas (49).
- He is bidding to record his 237th Grand Slam match-win today. By recording his 234th Grand Slam match-win in the round of 16, he claimed sole ownership of 3rd place on the list for most Grand Slam match-wins ahead of Jimmy Connors. Only Federer (332 Grand Slam match-wins) and Djokovic (244) have won more matches at the majors.
Good luck and Vamos Rafa!
Sources: ITF, ATP World Tour
rafa is rocks I am big big fan of yours
Vamos Vamos Vamos, a set and a break up now. Keep it going Rafa!!!
Rafa will win
And will show him who the master is on clay.
Rafa’s win today would be a double bonus: his 11th Coupe des Mousquetaires AND his 17th Grand Slam.
Best of luck to a great champion.
RAFA ROCKS
VAMOS RAFA.JUST DO IT.BECAUSE YOU CAN.ONLY ONE RAFA.👍🏼🇪🇸🍀🎾
The best of everything in your Final tomorrow Rafa. I’ll be praying that you are feeling great emotionally and physically so that you are able to play at your very best. God bless you. Love you Rafa.
Marylynn
I anticipate a super-aggressive, competitive fight to the finish from both oponents. Of course Dominic will have a plan and some surprizes but so will Rafa. Rafa is quite the problem-solver when needed. I am sure Coach Carlos and team have different scenarios for whatever weather conditons occur, etc and strategies to combat Dominic’s strategies,, new plan and surpirzes.
I’m sure there will be some nerves at the beginning for Rafa bidding for his 11th RG title and Dominic for his first RG title. This shoulld be a breath-taking match. The very best of luck to you, Rafa. Vamos.
As I said, Rafa was nervous at the start of his match vs Diego. Moyá admitted that nerves accounted for the first-set loss to Diego, and the tight first set vs del Potro. He went on to say against a player like Thiem he cannot afford to be nervous.
Today Rafa was to practice for one hour only and then relax until his final tomorrow. Carlos will discuss “slow starts” with Rafa to make him aware of the problem but not to dwell on it. He wants Rafa to play offensively and not let up.
Thiem said he has a plan, but can he execute it.
Rafa will have his undécima if he follows his team’s advice. Here’s to an 11th French Open title.
RAFA ROCKS
Source: Reem Abulleil, May 8, 2018
Mike Tyson – “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”
HAHAHA we may witness the tennis equivalent tomorrow of what Mike Tyson said:)
Good luck Rafa. Come out swinging and don’t let up! Get it done champ!