Internet Desk: Nine time French Open champion Rafael Nadal has reached the final of the tournament for a record 10th time after destroying his opponent Austria’s sixth seed Dominic Thiem in straight sets by 6-3, 6-4 6-0 and will face Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka to win the tenth French Open title.
Nadal leads the head-to-head with Wawrinka 15-3, but the Swiss beat an injury-hit Nadal three years ago to claim the Australian Open title.
“I have been playing a great event. But Stan is playing unbelievable,” said Nadal.
“It will be a super hard final and I will need to play at my very best.”
In the first semifinal, former champion, Stan Wawrinka became the oldest French Open finalist in 44 years when he beat World No. 1 Andy Murray by 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1.
Last year, Murray had defeated Wawrinka at the same stage in Paris.
The US Open champion will now face either nine-time winner Rafael Nadal or Australia’s Dominic Thiem for the title.
In four hour 34 minute battle of shotmaking and survival, 32-year old Wawrinka succeeded.
He will target a fourth Slam title on Sunday.
For Murray, his wait to become Britain’s first men’s champion in Paris since Fred Perry in 1935 goes on.
Murray is nowhere near to becoming Britain’s first men’s champion in Paris since Fred Perry in 1935
“I was hesitant in trying to finish the first and third sets but I felt like I could retake control.
“Andy always makes you play another ball, he makes you play badly.
“It was a great atmosphere which makes you give it your all.”
Murray admitted that Wawrinka was the stronger player in the end.
“I tried to keep fighting, but he played well at the end,” said Murray, the 2016 runner-up to Novak Djokovic.
“I was a tiebreak from getting to the final in a tournament which I came into struggling.”