Rafael Nadal will attempt to earn his 12th French Open title on Sunday when he faces the fourth-seeded Dominic Thiem with the championship on the line. The two men have competed 12 times in their career, but Thiem has recorded four victories.
Date: June 9, 2019
Match time: 3 PM local time / 9 AM EDT – New York, Montreal / 2 PM BST – United Kingdom / 3 PM CEST – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / 11 PM AEST – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa:
I think that I’m confident in myself. If I’m not able to execute my game plan, it’s going to be complicated. But if I play well, and I have played well up to now, no, I’ve got all my chances. But it’s always a match and anything can happen.
Domi on playing Rafa:
I think it’s really important that I go into the match with the belief to win. That’s the most important thing…. I (have) had some very good matches in the past against him on clay, and I also beat him on clay already.
Of course it’s big dream for me to win [the] match tomorrow, to win this title. But I also have in my head that [maybe] it’s not happening tomorrow–which can happen easy because of the opponent [who] is on the other side of the net. So I think I don’t make (for) myself too much pressure.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP Tour
History is on the line today. 18 is an absolute must in the GOAT race. One can only say “Vamos, vamos, vamos!”
2018 BIS= RAFA 3-0
WAMOS RAFA YOU ARE THE BEST
Awesome Rafa will win Vamos 🇪🇸💪💪👊👊💕💕🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Of course he’s going to win. 3 easy sets against Roger on Friday. Relax on Saturday. While Thiem had to play 2 hard sets on Friday and 3 very demanding sets on Saturday + rain delay etc. Sorry but it’s not fair. So, no wonder your Nadal is going to w.
I remember when the clay court season started and every interview Rafa was involved in he was asked about Roland Garros and he would always answer “I do not think that far ahead… We never know what the future holds… I think about the here and now. This is where I want to do well” and he said it in Monte Carlo, again in Barcelona, again in Madrid, and then in Rome … focusing on the tournament he was at and not the future.
We all know how he gained momentum and strength from the low of Monte Carlo and Barcelona to Madrid and then a victory in Rome… And that victory set the momentum for him as he entered Roland Garros. Now he speaks about this tournament and how it is his most favorite and most important to him … and these past 2 weeks we have witnessed Rafa at his finest, as he defeated every opponent and visibly got stronger and stronger with every match . He stepped onto the court for the semi finals in adverse weather conditions and played the mighty Roger Federer and he proceeded to take him apart…
He played beautiful tennis…. perfect in every way….
And now the Finals are here and our boy is in it!
Dominick is a talented young man but there is no stopping Rafa … He will unleash the beast once again playing magnificent tennis for all to see…. Victory will be his as he raises the cup once again #12 at Roland Garros
And I will be beyond joyous… as I raise a glass in his honor…
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!
This is Paris and here we are. I would love to see you Rafa, take a bite out of the La coupe des Mousquetaires for the 12th time. Imagine that! Looking so forward to you playing with all your relentless passion, intensity, focus and killer instinct as always. Remember your special gift of playing with that point by point mentality and don’t get over-whelmed by the moment of bringing home one dozen. On the other side of the net, Dominic will be fighting you for his very first french open title and he will be equally as motivated. You got this 1 dozen times.
All the very best to you and more, VAMOS!!! .
Dear Rafa, Like millions of other people I soooo want you to win your 12th RG. I believe in you, your success thus far, your preparation and your beautiful attitude as always. I thought your play against RF was the best I have ever seen from you (or anyone else, frankly). You were in the zone, the zone where your skill and confidence prevailed over your opponent’s, crowd preference or any physical limitation. All of this gives confidence that you are able to beat any opponent right now. Keep it going one more day, dear one!
Rafa was too cute when he said, “What happened in Monte Carlo happened. And what happened in Barcelona happened. And what happened in Madrid happened. And here we are. We are in Rome.” And we know how Rafa ended Rome for his opponent 6-0, 4-6, 6-1.
I trust Rafa to bring that same mindset and dogged persistence with him to his 12th Roland-Garros final.
Just one more to go.
Only 14 hours more and counting.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
When I congratulated Dominic in the comments on the previous article it was because I respect him as a sportsmanlike and hard-working player and I hope he wins RG one day. But not tomorrow. Rafa and his team deserve the trophy for all the work and belief that has gone into getting Rafa back on track over the last few months. I know some people say Rafa doesn’t need another RG, but because of the aforementioned, I think he does. Of course, it has to be earned through tomorrow’s match and Dominic is not an easy opponent. I wish Rafa good health, good luck, high confidence and high tennis level tomorrow. Go get it Rafa, vamos!!
jas_uk …. totally agree …. couldn’t have put it better myself. Rafa absolutely deserves to win his 12th Roland Garros tomorrow. 🙏👍❤️🎾🇪🇸💪🏆🥇❤️
Good Luck & Vamos RAFA!
The 12 th RG is yours only.Be aggressive from the start and dominate over Dominic.No double faulty and high 1 St serve percentage is the key for your success RAFA!
jas_uk, glad to see you in much better spirits than you were the last time worried about Rafa. No matter what happens with Rafa and his injuries he always comes back and makes me forget about all the rough times. He returns with a vengeance and I am always reminded why I was an instant fan the first time I laid my eyes on him.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
W e all be watching Rafa good luck champ 12 is yours win vamossssssssss champ 💪💪💪💪❤️❤️❤️❤️😘😘😘😘🎾🎾🎾🎾💪💪💪💪😘😘😘😘💪💪💪💪🎾😘❤️💪🎾😘❤️💪🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Rafa, Just play the way you did against Roger despite the wind and you will win. I am happy that Thiem beat Novak, and he is a very fine player. Dom is the Prince of Clay, but you are still the King. He will need to wait for another time.
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In a surprise, Nadal lost in straight sets to Dominic Thiem in quarterfinals, ending his 21-match and record 50-set winning streak on clay.
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The above is from last year. We were all anxious for last year’s final just because Rafa had already lost to Thiem.
Same story this year, Rafa has lost to Thiem. But at RG, the result will be the same as last year, with victory for our champ:)
Let’s not forget US Open last year when Thiem blindsided our Rafa for bagel in the first set. That was Thiem at his absolute best! And yet Rafa found a way around that youthful energy in the end.
Tomorrow, Rafa will be AMAZING once again. Thiem will win a few RGs, but not starting tomorrow.
Get it done quick champ! Bring #12 to Africa!
Wishing you all the very best of luck Rafa tomorrow, Vamos x
WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG AND GORGEOUS AND PLAYING SEXY MIGHT TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND KEEP SMILING!:) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO YOU ARE THE BETTER STRONGER PLAYER AND NO ONE COMES NEAR YOUR BRILLIANT TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!:) VAMOS SWEETHEART CHAMP YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND THE ULTIMATE TENNIS GENIUS …….THE ULTIMATE PASSIONATE GOAT OF ALL HISTORY!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):) WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE SUCH A TENNIS GIFT TO ALL AVID TENNIS LOVERS AND YOUR STRENGTH AND BRILLIANT TENNIS AND YOUR IMPRESSIVE BRILLIANT COURT COMMAND ARE ALL THE BEST TENNIS HAS EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Fingers crossed!
I desperately want you to win your 12th French Open trophy tonight, Rafa! Wishing you all the very best. Vamos!!
I desperately want you to win your 12th French Open trophy tonight, Rafa! Wishing you all the very best. Vamos!!
Rafa give all you got and stay aggressive win or loose I know you can beat him , good luck champion
I like Dominic..and am sooo pleased he beat Djokovic ….but he is playing my absolute hero Rafa tomorrow, and so, sorry Dominic, but VAMOS RAFA!!! Kick butt tomorrow and win your 12th RG you so bloomin deserve it! XXXX
This! Vamos Rafa!!! Bring home your 12 RG trophy! You have room in your beautiful academy for one more, don’t you?
Good luck and Vamos Rafa. Go for #12 <3
Go get him, Rafa!
Rafa good luck tomorrow,the King of Clay love from all your fans I will watch 💪💪💪❤️❤️❤️🎾🎾🎾😘😘😘👍👍👍🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Good luck Rafa. I’m sure you can do it but it will be a tough match. Never mind you, my nerves will be on edge!
Tomorrow may well be the day that Rafa hands over his reign at RG to a worthy successor in Dominic Thiem or it may be the day when he sets an unbeatable record – the 12th title!
Indeed anything can happen, Margo. Anything.
I say Rafa for the win in 4 – 6-3, 4-5, 7-5, 7-5
But as always, we’ll see……cheers
Maria, your scoring is a tad off but at least you’ve come to your senses. RAFA FOR THE WIN
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
I’ll be watching Rafa! VAMOS 🥰😍