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Two-time French Open champion reveals Rafael Nadal’s weakness

Rafa Nadal clinched his 11th French Open title on Sunday.

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World No. 1 Rafael Nadal outplayed Dominic Thiem in the final of Roland Garros 2018 to clinch a record 11th trophy in Paris. Thiem, the only player to have defeated Nadal twice on clay in the last two years, lasted only for two and a half hours against the Spaniard on Sunday as he went down 4-6, 3-6, 2-6. It was also Nadal’s 17th Grand Slam title and he is now only three short of his Swiss rival Roger Federer in the all-time men’s record.

The seventh-seeded, hailing from Croatia, was playing in his first grand slam final of any major tournament and was put under pressure right from the beginning of the game, with Nadal at his destructive best, despite battling a finger injury during the course of the match.

 

Barring the first set, where the two players were going neck to neck, Nadal totally dominated the Roland Garros as he played excellent serves to go on to lift his 11th title, equalling Australia's Margaret Court, who won the same number of title between the 1960s and 1970s.

Prior to the French Open 2018 final, two-time Roland Garros champion Jim Courier had suggested a way in which Thiem could try and put Nadal in trouble.

“If he [Thiem] can hit it deep or short off the court and get it into Nadal’s backhand, your percentage chances of beating Nadal jump dramatically. Rafa’s tried and trusted pattern is first serve and then get a forehand and start dominating from there.

 

“If he can prevent that, it will be easier for him because he can angle the forehand. He would have a better chance to get in some service games,” player-turned-commentator, who was commentating at the French Open 2018, Courier, added.

Clearly, Thiem wasn’t aware of this suggestion when he walked into the court to play his maiden Grand Slam final. Hence, he could not stop Nadal from clinching his 86th win at the French Open.

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