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,
Thiem says he has a plan. It is because he studies all your knew additions. You must show him it doesn’t matter. You have the heart of a lion and this is your house. Believe it and it is yours. I will be watching as always. Your biggest fan. Vamos! Now this is yours. Take it. ❤️
I’m so happy for the winnig of simona. She is romanias as i am. What a victory and performance. She is and will stay more time as number one. The happiness will be complete wirh rafa’s victory. I know he can win and he will. I hope also for a sunny sunday. Both no 1 and winner of franch open:simona and rafa…. Vamos Rafa
Come on, Go Rafa go. for your 11 th RG.I can see you holding and biting the Cup with all your Cheerful face.Vamos RAFA
Come on, Go Rafa go. for your 11 th RG.I can see you holding and biting the Cup with all your Cheerful face….
Congrats Simona Halep. What a fighter she is ! Well deserved victory . Sloane also played really well. A brilliant final with both performers giving their very best.
Congratulations to world No. 1 to Simona Halep on her first Grand Slam win after losing in three finals. Sloane Stephens won the first set but was overpowered in sets 2 and 3 by Simona, both physically and mentally.
Lovely reaction between simona and her coach , so hoping to see Uncle Tony with the rest of the Nadal family tomorrow, the greatest coach of all time.
So Happy for Simona Halep who’s just become the FO womens champion , now it’s up to you Rafa, Make it happen😁
I’m so excited about the men’s final tomorrow and the prospect of Rafa winning his 11th French Open. Meanwhile, i’m being treated to a scintilating women’s final. If Simona wins, it will be a just reward for her relentless effort to secure her first major. Rafa and Simona two warriors of the game! Good luck to both.
Good luck tomorrow Rafa , I’m hoping by Sunday evening both men’s and women’s number one have taken the title at the FO, that would be great and lovely to see Simona win her first grandslam and you your 11th . Good luck to you both.
Excellent article about why Rafa lost the first set to Diego Schwartzman, for anyone interested:
“Carlos Moyá’s Takeaways After Rafael Nadal’s QF Victory”
RAFA ROCKS
How do I find that?
I gave the title of the article; just Google it.
Good luck our king of clay. Come out strong and make theim pay your game. It is your court. He just think he can win. But in 5 sets no way he can keep up. Good blessings for you.
This will be a great final. Take rest today, enjoy some time with your family and than go for #11. you can do it. Vamos Rafa <3
My King of tennis. Wishing you all the very best tomorrow in the Final. Looking forward to see you
🎾💕🇮🇪
Rafa just repeat your performance of Monte Carlo against Thiem, and the trophy is yours to take home.🏆
Rafa all the very best for the finals tomorrow,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
The most important thing for final is rafa down the line forehand if it comes blazing aal cylinders out then it is hard to stop rafa also i want rafa to see his match against stan wawrinka of final roland garross
I think the key for the match is rafa positive attitude whih he carries always without nerves….if it is there them even if rafa is 2 set down he can turn table and win it from there also mixing of speed of ball is so important ….rafa needs to hold the serve and play long……but rafa knows the best what he had to do…
Vamos rafa….best luck for final….we love u….
Hummm…. edit and correct next post please. 2018
Reaching the finals means one away to get your 11th 🏆! Best of luck and Vamos…
🍀🎾🍀🎾🍀🎾 You can do it💪💪💪
Rafa – Thiem H2H is 6 Rafa 3 Thiem victories. These statistics give the obnoxious no reason for his belief he can beat Rafa in a RG final. But one never knows…
Wamos Rafa you are the best ever.