Rafael Nadal is on course to retain his French Open title after defeating Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to reach the semi-final of the major tournament.
Schwartzman ended Rafa’s run of 36 consecutive sets won at Roland Garros, dominating the longer rallies with well-constructed points and the match was evenly poised at 4-4 in the third set when our champ converted a crucial break point.
Schwartzman ran out of energy in the fourth as Rafa dispatched him with a clinical performance, the defending champion sending a flurry of winners past the tiring Argentine.
After the match, Rafa said:
“I want to show my appreciation for playing in front of you, Diego is such an amazing player with so much talent and I respect him so much, today was a very difficult challenge. To play in front of you where I have so much history is very special for me.
“We know each other well, I started bad the second set and then was able to come back, but then the game at 4-4, returning with the wind helping, I played a bad game and had a tricky situation serving to not lose the set. Well done to him, he played well.
“I needed to play a little bit more aggressive and I think I did later, so I am very happy for that.
“I felt always the support of all my family since I was a kid, but a real support without pressure, they were always ready to help me with every thing I needed. Thanks to all of them and without their support and the fans’ in the low moment it would be very difficult.”
Rafa will next play either top seed Novak Djokovic or Matteo Berrettini who meet in the last quarter-final later on Wednesday.
Source: Reuters
Rafael such a fantastic match!! Big big kiss, ciao Eva
Congratulations to Rafa and hope he keeps us saying that. What a fantastic match.
Pamper that body to be ready for Friday and good luck for your last two matches. You are RAFAMAZING.
Rafa I watch you play today it was amazing you can do it again this is yours vamosssssss champ we love you we are with you all the way to the final 💪💪💪💪💪💪👍❤️🎾🇺🇸
Nav… Mimi…. Lorna…. I’m opening the bagel store in NY….. It’s going to be called “Rafa’s Bagels” …
We will have 3 kinds ….
Plain…for the “simple, easy” games he wins…
Sesame – for the times he needs to sprinkle some extra seeds for the win…
And then the EVERYTHING BAGEL!!! When he’s on fire and throws everything at his opponent and they don’t stand a chance….
Yummmm…. I think this sounds so good!!! 🙂 🙂
😀👍🏼
Nice Marileena!👏 I will visit NY more often for sure.
Haha! Yes, Navdeep. Rafa certainly has tge credentials for that job 😂
Mimi, he definitely tops the bagels leader board now.
Yes Lorna!👍
Vamos Rafa👏💪❤️
Nadal is opening a bakery to serve bagels !
Great to hear you after a while navdeep…Yes he is humiliating quite a lot of guys
Hello khawartaimoor, sorry man I haven’t been a regular here for sometime but always keeps an eye on our champ. This is his trophy, his playground , he’ll conquer .
Vamos no.14 here we come !
What a great spectacle! Great atmosphere. An amazing challenge from Diego and he should be very proud of his efforts. Well done Rafa for staying strong and emerging victorious.
Congrats so many time Rafa even though i don’t think anyone makes Schwartzman play as well as Rafa does – so grateful that Rafa can raise his level so much in the last 8 games of the match
Another🥯! Breathtaking. Congratulations on a fantastic win, elevating your game to finish💪🎾❤️
Well done to our champ Rafa Nadal.
Schwartzman put up a great challenge and Rafa rose to the occasion.
Rest up and prepare for the upcoming battle on Friday champ!
The Lord Guide the King Rafa to win this RG tournament for the 14th Time and for the 15th time and Next year Amen 🙏🏿
Vamos Rafa. What an incredible end to a match. Wishing you all the very best for the semi-final.
Excellent performance all around… Beautiful Sportsman with his Family support.you are the Real King… Congratulations Rafa for the Semifinals spot..Shwartzman deserves the credit bcz he played His best match of his career still lost Handsomely. I don’t think Novak will be a problem as Rafa’s level is increasing in every match
That was a real entertaining day of tennis! I think I’m enjoying it a lot more because I’m not so crazy nuts if Rafa loses! I was really hoping Iga would win! Maria Sakkari looks like she could enter a bodybuilding competition! She has more muscles than Rafa! Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed myself! We’ll see how it goes with Novák… I wanted Matteo to bump him out but hear we go again! I just don’t know what to think… It could be a five setter but Rafa at RG … it could go 3 straight with Rafa of course being victorious! I might have to hide my head in the sand until I see Rafa ahead! 💜🙏Rafa!
Rafa looked hurt/tired in the second set. I really hope he is fine. Take rest and than all the best for friday. Go for it champ❤️
It was really humid ,78% humidity and Rafa sweats profusely…like Robbie Koenig says … Rafa’s dripping like a tap! I think he felt a bit weak from all that sweating….he was trying to replace his energy with all those bars and drinks!
here
Well done Rafa!! 👍🏻👏🏻💪🏻🙌🏻👌🏻. One more semifinals, it is always nice and special seeing you win, but it is GREAT to see you when you become aggressive and RELENTLESS 😀🤫🙏🏻😌.
Come on King of Clay, just two left for the Glory, once more!!
VAMOSSSSSSS our ‘Ranging Bull’ 🐂💥💫⚡🌀🌈🌊🔥🔥
Congratulations Rafa!!!👏👏👏
All the best the rest of the tournament.🍀❤️
impresionante Rafael, impresionante, ojala’ y ganas tus 14, te espero para vivir lo. enhorabuena CAMPEON.
VAMOS. RAFA!!!!!! I’m so proud of you! Keep fighting!!
VAMOS, RAFA!!!!