Rafael Nadal v Dominic Thiem: French Open men's final – live!

Game-by-game updates from the final at Roland GarrosThiem tasked with facing Nadal after ending Djokovic’s streakSend your emails to Jacob here or tweet @JacobSteinberg 2.45pm BST First set: Nadal 3-3 Thiem* (*denotes server): Thiem has to hold here. He has to consolidate the break. But Nadal’s on the offensive straight away, taking control of the first rally. Thiem makes it work for it with more incredible defence way behind the baseline, but Nadal makes it 0-15 with a smash. These are brutal rallies – and Nadal is asking for more time between the points. He isn’t happy with the umpire for rushing them. But he’s more content after watching a couple of Thiem forehands sail well off target. Three break points. Everyone settles down as a sense of normality returns. Thiem saves the first break point with a pinpoint forehand, but Nadal converts the second with a forehand winner from left to right. That didn’t last long. 2.40pm BST First set: Nadal* 2-3 Thiem (*denotes server): Nadal has made quite a few unforced errors. Thiem is defending pretty well. The question is whether the Austrian will still be running as hard in an hour or two. For now, however, he’s competing and his stubborn defence helps him get back to 30-all from 30-0, Nadal missing a couple of forehands. Then he earns the first break point of the final with an enormous forehand (only after failing to kill the rally with a few volleys that were somehow repelled by Nadal). A tense, punishing rally ensues. It’s hard to tell which way it will go – until Thiem takes control with another brutal forehand into the left corner. Nadal hooks it back but Thiem’s waiting to break with a smash! Continue reading…
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