Rafael Nadal

Nadal comes into the match on the back of an impressive quarterfinal victory over Novak Djokovic that underlined his quality on the red dirt of Paris even as he ...

In the other semifinal is Casper Ruud and Marin Cilic, two players Zverev would be favourite to beat in the final. *NADAL 0-2 ZVEREV: Zverev consolidates the early break with a hold of serve. Nadal is the King of Clay, but is struggling with fitness and injury. *NADAL 1-0 ZVEREV (7-6): Break! This is rock solid tennis from Nadal at the start of the second start as he grabs the early break. Then the German put a routine forehand into the tramlines and Nadal has broken back! Zverev throws in his first double fault of the match at 40-40, saves one break point, but then loses grip of his racquet to bring up another. NADAL 5-4 ZVEREV*: Nadal leads for the first time in the match. That was a very slack game by Nadal and Zverev is back on serve. The German's game is difficult to read at the moment. However, the umpire overruled a call and that allowed Zverev back into the game. Zverev produces a double fault on break point when he was serving for the second set. The German has forced Nadal to serve to stay in the second set.

While Nadal ended Djokovic's bid for a 21st Grand Slam with a win in the quarters, Zverev avenged his loss Madrid Open final defeat as he defeated teen ...

- Swiatek is on a 34-match winning streak. Gauff hasn't dropped a set in her run to the final. A title win will also make him the oldest ever French Open champion. “I have seen a few matches live as it is not always possible because I was also in tournaments but when I watched this year’s Australian Open final, oh my God, it was just overwhelming really. Both have a good win percentage on their first serve, but Nadal leads the chart on second serve with 62.2 per cent win behind it as against Zverev's 41. Nadal threatened twice, but Zverev fended off the threat with a big forehand crosscourt return. Zverev then went wider towards Nadal's forehand on his serve to gain a 3-1 lead in the opening set Nadal draws Zverev forward with the drop shot and Zverev puts the return long. The serve and serve-plus-one tactic working perfectly for Zverev today, as it has been throughout the tournament. Zverev pushing Nadal to his backhand and then pushing the winner towards the forehand zone. A 6th double fault to start for Zverev. Opportunity for Nadal with the forehand but it hits the net cord. Nadal unable to adjust and he concedes the first point and then does another after his first double fault for the night.

Rafael Nadal will face another hurdle in the pursuit of his 14th French Open title with German talent Alexander Zverev his opponent in Friday's semi-final.

Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6(7) 7-6(11) 7-5 6-3 Bernabe Zapata-Miralles (Spain) 7-6(2) 6-3 7-6(5) 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6(4)

Rafael Nadal, 13-time champion at Roland-Garros, is celebrating his birthday today, and the ace tennis player who turns 36-year-old today is two victories ...

Rafa is up against Alexander Zverev in the French Open semis. He broke Jimmy Connors' record in the process and is set to further extend it. In fact, he lost at the French Open only 3 times.

Le vainqueur de ce duel aura rendez-vous en finale à Paris avec le gagnant de l'autre demi-finale opposant Casper Ruud et Marin Cilic disputée un peu plus tard ...

Mais Nadal a recollé, puis s'est procuré trois premières balles de set à 5 jeux à 4. Chacune des deux manches a duré le temps d'un match de foot. Zverev a abandonné alors qu'il était mené 7-6 (10/8), 6-6 après un bras de fer de plus de trois heures.