Keep clay court tennis on the clay - not on hard courts. His first set performance gave no hint of the struggle with Djokovic. Nadal said jokingly of his own record. "For the third straight season, the unfortunate Thiem lost to Nadal at the French Open after defeating him in a warmup. McEnroe in 84 and Edberg in the 90s played brilliantly in the FO finals but they were both ground down in the end by the clay which rewards athletic defensive counter punching. In a city filled with one boulangerie after another, Nadal tries for a baker's dozen of French Open titles in 2020. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.When Nadal beat a weary Dominic Thiem 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 on the court he has owned since a teen, the Spaniard became the first player to ever win the same grand slam 12 times. Game-by-game report: Rafael Nadal claimed his 12th French Open title after a deserved 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 win over Dominic Thiem But technical and creative players do not do well on clay.
PARIS -- Rafael Nadal extended his own record with a 12th French Open title on Sunday, June 9, heating up late in a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 win over fourth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem in … The story of their rise to the top and the toll it tookAnalysis and opinion from the BBC's tennis correspondent.How to get into tennis - it's fun, will keep you fit and caters for all levels and abilities. Reeling, Thiem dropped serve, the game highlighted by Nadal chasing a fine Thiem drop shot and then replying with his own drop shot winner. In an extended 10-minute game, Nadal saved a break point to hold for 4-3. Find your nearest court and learn the basics with our guide.Get the latest tennis headlines sent straight to your phone, sign-up to our newsletter and learn where to find us on online. "He tried to stop the super Spaniard from winning an 11th title last year but was ultimately brushed aside 6-4 6-3 6-2.At this point we have to take into account that our intrepid hero from Austria only completed his semi-final on Saturday - so he has had two fewer days' rest.But this is a much improved and more resilient Thiem in 2019, as world number one Novak Djokovic found to his cost. If you say this then we can also ask what would've happened if Fed had changed his racquet before 2016, perhaps we would've been talking about his 12 Wimbledons...it's just utter nonsense, what does it matter who has won what? Rafael Nadal continues to be virtually unstoppable at the French Open, winning his 12th title Sunday after beating Dominic Thiem for the second straight year. "But at the same time, a match like yesterday, beating Novak over two days with all the interruptions, it leaves traces on the body and also on the mind.
"It is incredible, being honest, no?" "I am not very worried about this stuff, no?"
In a rematch of the previous year’s final against Thiem, Nadal prevailed in four sets to claim his record-extending twelfth French Open title. Indeed, Saturday was about the perfect day for Nadal. Thiem and other players must have been buoyed when Nadal -- coming off another knee injury -- began the clay-court swing poorly by his standards.
Thiem knew he could scarcely afford to go a set behind the reigning champion - and falling two adrift would have all but extinguished his hopes.Following the intensity of the opening set, the level dropped in the second as serve dominated.Only six receiving points were won in the opening 11 games - five for Nadal and just one for Thiem - before Thiem, out of nowhere, found himself with two set points.And the Austrian levelled the match when Nadal blinked again, hitting a backhand long after a 10-shot rally.But the exertions of winning that set, playing four days in a row and having 24 hours fewer than Nadal to recover from the semi-finals, perhaps took their toll.Nadal nipped off court at the end of the set, possibly for a mental reset as much as anything else, leaving Thiem waiting on the baseline for the start of the third set.Whether Nadal was using delaying tactics or not, the break of momentum worked.Thiem delivered a poor service game as Nadal broke to love, the Spaniard backing that up with a hold to love sealed with an exquisite stun volley that even prompted a thumbs up from the Austrian.Nadal won the opening 11 points of the third and clinched the double break with a trademark forehand down the line, an exuberant quadruple fist-pump celebration along the baseline stressing its importance.Thiem won just seven points in the third set before ending a miserable 30 minutes with another unforced error into the net.He began to look weary in the fourth set - particularly mentally - and Nadal smelt blood.The Spaniard moved into a 3-0 lead, after seeing off break points in his two service games, before breaking again for a 5-1 lead.Although Thiem saved one match point, he could not prevent the inevitable and batted a Nadal serve long to spark jubilant celebrations from the Spaniard.That was by far the best match we've seen at these championships.Thiem was physically standing toe-to-toe with Nadal in the first set. People could equally say this era is weak as it is too easily dominated by 3 players. Thiem trailed by an early break in the 2018 final but on this occasion, the 25-year-old broke first for 3-2 courtesy of his powerhouse forehand. He possesses a brilliant combination of pace and power and more than once in the early going in intermittent sun, Thiem commendably chased balls and offered up defensive lobs to neutralize the Mallorcan.