Rafael Nadal has won the 2018 French Open, securing his 11th title at Roland Garros and his 17th Grand Slam title in all. He bested Dominic Thiem in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Read our full recap right here.
Below, you can see the live blog in reverse chronology, and below that you can see the preview for Sunday’s match. Thiem fought hard, and looked great at times, but he was ultimately no match for Nadal, even a Nadal who was dealing with cramps.
Third Set FINAL (3-0 Nadal, Game 8: Nadal 6, Thiem 2
Hard serve is returred far too wide by Thiem. An eight-shot rally ends with Thiem hitting one wide. Another huge serve, and Nadal has a triple championship point attempt. He has a backhand go wide, so it’s championship point No. 2. Nadal tries a dropshot, but Thiem gets to it and forces championship point No. 3. First serve fault. Second serve is too safe, and Thiem manages to get it to deuce. A long rally ends with Thiem hitting a forehand long, and it’s championship point No. 4. But he has a backhand go wide, so back to deuce again. Thiem goes wide again, and championship point No. 5 is here. Thiem goes wide and Nadal gets the win!
Third Set (2-0 Nadal), Game 7: Nadal 5, Thiem 2
A quick double fault for Thiem, and Nadal is up 30-15. Perfectly-placed dropshot from Nadal has him threatening a break. A masterful return for Nadal, and he gets the break. Now he’ll serve for the match.
Third Set (2-0 Nadal), Game 6: Nadal 4, Thiem 2
Nadal again spending time with trainers, this time the tournament doctor, between sets. They’re working on his left forearm, which means cramping seems like the most likely issue. Big forehand winner from Nadal on a long rally to start his service game. Another one, and Nadal is up 30-0. Nadal continues to win the protracted rallies, with Thiem hitting a backhand into the net. Nadal holds, and the end is in sight.
Third Set (2-0 Nadal), Game 5: Nadal 3, Thiem 2
It’s forehand cramps for Nadal, so expect Thiem to hit some hard shots high in that direction. He quickly goes up 40-0 in his service game, but Nadal hits a nice backhand to get on the board. A great first serve for Thiem leads to points and a game win.
Third Set (2-0 Nadal), Game 4: Nadal 3, Thiem 1
Nadal quickly goes up 30-0, and then has to spend time with the trainer after what appears to be a massive cramp in his hand. Looks like it just seized up on him. But he resumes playing. Thiem gets a point, but Nadal goes up 40-15. A long rally ensues, one in which Thiem hit one long to drop the game, in a spot where he didn’t really need to.
Third Set (2-0 Nadal), Game 3: Nadal 2, Thiem 1
Thiem gets a couple good shots in, but Nadal quickly rallies and gets a break point attempt. Thiem fights it off with a beautiful drop shot that Nadal is nowhere near. So we get to deuce, and Thiem quickly gets to advantage after another strong serve. But a long rally breaks down and Nadal hits a huge forehand winner to get back to deuce. Thiem gets advantage, and again it’s a forehand winner for Nadal to get back to deuce. Unforced error from Thiem gives Nadal his second break attempt of the game. Thiem goes juuuust wide, and Nadal gets the break!
Third Set (2-0 Nadal), Game 2: Thiem 1, Nadal 1
Nadal is quickly up 40-15 here, thanks to strong serving that Thiem can barely get to. Another hard serve and Thiem goes into the net. Nadal holds easily.
Third Set (2-0 Nadal), Game 1: Thiem 1, Nadal 0
Thiem serving to start the third set, and Nadal is fighting hard for every point. Nadal rips a backhand down the line to go up 30-0. Another big one, and Nadal has a triple break point attempt. Thiem hits a strong forehand that Nadal can’t get to. Nadal sends one long and it’s 40-30. A Nadal backhand across the court is very close, but just out, and Thiem gets to deuce. He puts too much on his return, and advantage Nadal. Fourth break point attempt. Strong serve, and back to deuce. Thiem finally wins a strong net point to get the advantage. And Nadal doesn’t get the break, giving Thiem a much-needed break.
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 9: Nadal 6, Thiem 3
Two very hard serves from Nadal, and he’s quickly up 30-0. He sends a forehand long after a strong return from Thiem. Nadal rips a forehand down the line and Thiem can barely get his racket on it, so a double set point for Nadal here. He converts, and he’s got the win in his sights!
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 8: Nadal 5, Thiem 3
Thiem is serving to stay in this second set. It’s a quick 15-15, and then a 30-15 lead for Thiem after a strong serve. Nadal hits one too long, and Thiem is up 40-15. He holds, but Nadal is now serving for the set.
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 7: Nadal 5, Thiem 2
Long rally on the first point, and Thiem hits a beautiful winner to start it. Another huge rally goes back and forth, but Nadal fakes a backhand and switches quickly to a forehand that lands right inside. Again — a big rally ended with a Nadal cross-court forehand that is simply perfectly placed. Thiem ties it up at 30-30 when one of those forehands goes wide for Nadal. Thiem suddenly has a break attempt on the next point. Nadal tries a dropshot, but Thiem gets to it. Nadal manages to fight it off though, and gets back to deuce. Advantage Nadal, and then a hold. Close one!
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 6: Nadal 4, Thiem 2
Strong, strong service game for Thiem here, at least early. He’s serving hard and accurate, and again he’s forcing Nadal to use the whole court. He goes up 40-0, and on his second serve, he manages to force Nadal into sending one short into the net. Thiem holds.
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 5: Nadal 4, Thiem 1
Thiem gets two quick points on Nadal’s serve, and then they go back and forth on a looooong rally that ends when Nadal rips a backhand down the baseline. Then he ties it, and when Thiem hits a return long, Nadal leads 40-30. His first serve goes into the net, and his second is weak enough that Thiem rips a forehand down the line that freezes Nadal and brings it to deuce. Thiem goes long twice and Nadal holds.
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 4: Nadal 3, Thiem 1
Thiem needs to slow this down a little bit and calm down. His forehand is betraying him and his backhand lacks pop. And just as I type that, he rips a backhand down the line to go up 30-0. Then another ace, and he’s up 40-0. He quickly holds, something he sorely needed.
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 3: Nadal 3, Thiem 0
Forehand winner from Nadal, and then an unforced error for Thiem. Then another one, way out of bounds and Nadal is up, 40-15. He quickly puts this game to rest, and has a 3-0 lead.
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 2: Nadal 2, Thiem 0
Hard backhand returns from Nadal, and Thiem is quickly in a 15-40 hole, facing a double break attempt. A hard serve gets him out of the first break attempt. A blistering forehand off the return has Nadal scrambling and gets it to deuce. Thiem leaves one out there a bit, and after a strong Nadal backhand, hits it into the net for a third Nadal break point attempt. And back to deuce when Nadal’s forehand goes long. An ace for Thiem and he goes up with the advantage. But he double faults, bringing it back to deuce again. Another short one into the net for Thiem, and Nadal has a fourth break attempt. Thiem fights it off with a serve that Nadal barely gets a piece of. Thiem’s backhand goes into the net on a long rally, and it’s break point No. 5. This time, Nadal gets it and goes up 2-0 in the second!
Second Set (1-0 Nadal), Game 1: Nadal 1, Thiem 0
Nadal up 15-0 quickly, but has an errant backhand go wide to tie it up. He’s solid from there, hitting a couple backhand winners for a quick hold to start the second set.
First Set, Game 10: Nadal 6, Thiem 4
Serving at 4-5, Thiem is quickly into an 0-30 hole as Nadal’s returns are crushing. Thiem puts one into the net and it’s a triple set point attempt for Nadal. Thiem sends another one long and just like that, Nadal has his second break and the first set.
First Set, Game 9: Nadal 5, Thiem 4
Nadal goes up 15-0, but has a double fault when he sends it wide and then into the net. Big serve and a long return for Thiem, and Nadal is cruising. Another easy point and a hold for Nadal.
First Set, Game 8: Nadal 4, Thiem 4
Thiem forcing Nadal to cover the entire court early in this service game. He goes up 30-0 with Nadal scrambling back and forth, and then hits an ace to go up 40-0. Thiem holds much easier this time around.
First Set, Game 7: Nadal 4, Thiem 3
Thiem gets the first points on Nadal’s serve, but Nadal quickly ties it with a pair of strong backhands. Then he goes up with a strong serve, and drops one in over the top of Thiem and into the back corner to go up 40-15. Thiem can’t handle the next return, and Nadal holds.
First Set, Game 6: Nadal 3, Thiem 3
Nadal sends a return into the net, and a Thiem forehand goes too far across court to make it 15-15. Successive massive forehands from Thiem gets him a point away on his service game. First serve goes out. Second serve, Thiem let’s one go past him because he thinks it’s out, but the umpire disagrees, giving Nadal the point to make it deuce. First serve out again for Thiem, and the second is way too safe, but Nadal sends it wide anyway. Advantage Thiem. Another first serve into the net, and his return on the second serve bounces off the net and goes far. Advantage again after Nadal can’t make it to a far forehand. Nadal attacks a volley at the net and it’s deuce again. Break point attempt now for Nadal. Deuce No. 4 as Thiem hits it to opposite sides of the court three times in a row. Thiem goes long, and Nadal has another break attempt. A return goes wide, and Deuce No. 5. Advantage Thiem after a successful dropshot this time. A 13-minute game comes to an end when Nadal can’t handle a serve, and Thiem holds!
First Set, Game 5: Nadal 3, Thiem 2
A long rally ends after a Nadal dropshot baits Thiem into coming forward, and Nadal gets the forehand return off the drop to go up 30-15. Big serve and a long return from Thiem makes it 40-15. Nadal closes it out quickly.
First Set, Game 4: Nadal 2, Thiem 2
Huge second serve for Thiem evens this game at 15-15, but Nadal takes over with a forehand down the right baseline while Thiem was a little lax on his volley. Thiem goes up 40-30, but Nadal gets it to deuece when, again, Thiem leaves a shot out there. A drop shot attempt off his own serve, and Thiem is facing another break point. Nadal sends the 138 mph serve back too long, and it’s deuce No. 2. Huge ace from Thiem, but back to deuce. Advantage Thiem again, and after a back-and-forth rally, he gets through and holds.
First Set, Game 3: Nadal 2, Thiem 1
Nadal gives up his first service points in a long rally after Thiem has multiple strong backhand returns. He quickly ties it up with a strong serve-and-return, and before long he’s looking at fighting off multiple break attempts from Thiem! Thiem sees the first one go away when Nadal hits one long and Thiem smashes it down the opposite line. Then Thiem gets the break to get back on serve!
First Set, Game 2: Nadal 2, Thiem 0
Nadal quickly goes up 30-0 in the second game after he has a beautiful drop shot that has Thiem dashing across the court to catch it. Thiem gets on the board after a strong backhand rally where Nadal sends one long. Thiem sends a hard one down the baseline but it’s JUST long. That’s the shot Thiem wants all day, but he can’t miss it like he just did. Thiem drops his first service game when he can’t handle Nadal’s return.
First Set, Game 1: Nadal 1, Thiem 0
Nadal scores a quick point on his serve, and after a fault, notches another when Thiem’s return goes long. Thiem gets a strong return on the next serve, but Nadal slices one across the court, making Thiem’s return go long. He plays the net on the next return and buries the first game without giving up a point.
The King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, is in another French Open final, which should surprise nobody. He’s set to face Dominic Thiem on Sunday morning to decide the 2018 Roland Garros champion. If Nadal wins, it will be his 11th title there, which would tie Margaret Court for the most titles at a single slam (she did it at the Australian Open).
The final is set to begin at 9 a.m. ET on NBC. Live streaming is available through NBC Sports, NBC Sports app and other streaming services that carry the channel, such as fuboTV.
Thiem is widely considered the second-best men’s tennis player when it comes to the clay surface, but he’s up against the best. Thiem is playing in his first ever Grand Slam final, having made it as far as the fourth round in the other three majors.
For the second year in a row, he’s the only player to have beaten Nadal on Clay coming into the tournament. He snapped Nadal’s 50 sets-in-a-row record when they met in the quarterfinals on the clay of Madrid in May. That streak started when Thiem beat Nadal in Rome last year.
Other than those two matches, Thiem has beaten Nadal one other time. In the head-to-head, Nadal has a 6-3 advantage, with all of their matches having been contested on clay. The most recent was the aforementioned straight-sets win for Thiem in Madrid. Nadal’s last win over Thiem came on the clay in Monaco earlier this year, and before that he beat Thiem in the semifinals of the 2017 French Open.
Thiem came into the French Open as the seventh seed, while Nadal is the top seed.
Below is all you need to know to watch the action.
How to watch the French Open Men’s Singles Final
Date: Sunday, June 10
Time: 9 a.m. ET
Location: Stade Roland-Garros, Paris, France
TV: NBC
Online Streaming: NBC Sports, NBC Sports app, fuboTV
Roland Garros Men’s Singles Final
No. 1 Rafael Nadal vs. No. 7 Dominic Thiem
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