Rafa Nadal (1) broke the opening serve of Dominic Thiem (7) in the 2018 Roland Garros men’s singles final to lead 2-0.
Thiem immediately broke back, sealing the game with a forehand winner.
A Thiem off forehand winner was followed by a double fault and 15-15. Nadal’s forehand winner and two errors brought up game point. A second double fault and deuce. A failed drop shot and break point. Deuce with his biggest serve yet. An ace and game point again. Nadal hit a backhand winner for deuce. The final two points were Spanish mistakes and it was 2-2.
The next Nadal service game was highlighted by a lob winner and Rafa led 3-2.
Two winning forehands, a winning backhand, five deuces, two saved break points, and Thiem levelled at 3-3.
Nadal served well for 4-3
An Austrian backhand winner and an ace for 4-4. Double fault by Nadal and 15-15. Serve held and Thiem needed to do the same to stay alive in the opening set.
Volley error and 0-15. Loose shot and 0-30. Three set points. Only one needed. 6-4 Nadal.
Serving first in set two, Nadal held for 1-0. Three break points saved by Thiem but a double fault and netted backhand presented another break point. Saved with a forehand winner. Break point once more. Nadal achieved it and led 2-0.
Thiem finding the net too often and Nadal ahead 3-0.
Backhand pass and then an ace and a service winner from Thiem for 1-3.
A Thiem forehand down the line and deuce on Nadal’s serve. Game won 4-1 Nadal.
A good hold for Thiem and he trailed 2-4.
Deuce in the next Nadal service game. Break point following a Thiem drop shot winner. Saved through a Nadal backhand winner. Game point. Converted for 5-2.
Thiem held for 3-5 and Nadal served for the set. 30-0 quickly. Two set points arrived. Only one needed and Rafa led 6-4 6-3.
Nadal was in total control now and he broke the Thiem serve early in set three to lead 2-1.
At 30-0 Nadal had treatment on his wrists. After a couple of minutes he resumed and consolidated his break 3-1.
A Nadal forehand couldn’t prevent Thiem from holding serve easily and he remained close at 2-3.
Two forehand winners and a volley in a love game took Nadal to 4-2.
A Thiem double fault and 0-15 as the sky grew darker. An error from Thiem and 0-30. An ace for 15-30. A successful drop shot from Nadal and two break points. The break came after a brilliant return. 5-2 and a game away from title number 11.
Thiem seemed resigned to his fate as he threw in two unforced errors and it was 30-0. A big serve produced an Austrian shot long and three championship points awaited Rafa. One disappeared. The second also thanks to a winning Thiem forehand. The third evaporated when Nadal hit one wide. A long rally ended with Thiem missing the court and match point number four. Saved with Nadal going wide. Forehand long from a Thiem and match point number five. Return long and that was it - Roland Garros title number eleven for Clay Court King Rafa Nadal 6-4 6-3 6-2
Grand Slam title number 17 for Nadal who retains his world number one ranking.
Dominic Thiem was yet another Nadal victim and should take away only positives from his first Grand Slam tournament final. This experience will help him invaluably.
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