PARIS: Rafael Nadal claimed an 11th French Open title on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 demolition of Dominic Thiem despite a worrying injury scare in the closing stages of the final.
The 32-year-old world No. 1 now has 17 Grand Slam titles, just three behind great rival Roger Federer.
Nadal endured a nervy conclusion to the final, however, when he needed treatment in the fourth game of the third set for a finger injury before sealing victory on a fifth match point when Thiem fired a backhand long.
“It’s really incredible. I played a great match against a great player,” said Nadal.
“I had tough moment in the third set with cramps in my hand. I was very scared but that’s sport — it was very humid.
“To win 11 times here — it’s fantastic and not something I ever dreamed of.”
Nadal joins Australia’s Margaret Court as the only player to win 11 titles at the same major.
Victory also took Nadal’s record at Roland Garros to 86 wins and just two losses.
For Thiem, playing in his first Slam final, it was a tremendous letdown for a player who is the only man to have beaten the Spaniard on clay in the last two years.
With a celebrity audience — including actors Hugh Grant and Tim Roth as well as French stars Marion Cotillard and Jean Dujardin — watching, Nadal flew out of the blocks.
He reeled off the first six points for a 2-0 lead before Thiem settled and repaired the damage for 2-2.
The Austrian speared a 222 km/h ace just for good measure in the fourth game to save a break point.
He saved another two in the 11-minute sixth game, a performance cheered by the crowd who briefly became more animated when glum-looking French football icon Zinedine Zidane was spotted in the stadium.
Despite matching Nadal forehand for forehand, Thiem was undone in the 10th game when three errors handed Nadal the opening set after 52 minutes on court.
A wild, misguided forehand sealed his fate, one of 18 unforced errors to Nadal’s 12 in the set.
In their previous nine meetings, all on clay, the man who took the opening set went on to win the match.
That scenario loomed again with Nadal going to 2-0 in the second set on a fifth break point as Thiem fired another backhand wide.
Thiem wasted a break point in the seventh game as Nadal collected a time violation for taking too long to serve.
The world No. 1 saved it and went on to secure a two sets lead when yet another backhand from the Austrian drifted wide.
Thiem was under the cosh, saving four break points in the first game of the third set before Nadal inevitably broke for 2-1.
Bizarrely, Nadal then halted playing in the fourth game complaining of pain in his left hand and stretching his middle finger.
He still won the game anyway before summoning the doctor and trainer courtside.
Whatever the problem, his dominance remained and a love game took him to 4-2 before he eventially sealed victory on a fifth match point when the Austrian fired another backhand long.
Rafael Nadal wins 11th French Open despite late injury scare
Rafael Nadal wins 11th French Open despite late injury scare
- Spaniard beats Dominic Thiem in straight sets
- He now has 17 Grand Slam titles, just three behind great rival Roger Federer
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Australian Open champ Rybakina hoping to finally celebrate this week at home tournament in Dubai
- World No. 3 has barely had a chance to relax after winning in Melbourne, being bedridden during a short stopover in Dubai and then going straight back on court in Doha
DUBAI: Elena Rybakina is hoping to have a proper celebration of her Australian Open win at this week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Such is the demanding schedule of modern-day tennis, the Kazakh star is hoping that at her adopted home tournament in the city, in which she has lived since 2024, provides the chance to properly celebrate.
The 26-year-old is balancing the demands of being the top seed at this week’s WTA 1000 tournament with all the off-court demands that come after weeks away — things to do, people to see, favorite places to go.
“Honestly, it’s really not enough time,” said Rybakina, who stopped in Dubai on route from Australia to Qatar, where she lost in the quarterfinals.
“When I got back home, I also got a little cold, so I was not celebrating. I was literally in bed for couple of days. Then we had to go to Doha. It’s quite a busy schedule.
“Of course, you can pick and choose at some point, but it’s a pity to miss a tournament if you’re at home, that’s for sure. It’s been everything pretty quick, so hopefully I will get some rest later and celebrate bigger.”
Fresh from Qatar, Rybakina is yet to explore the newly expanded Dubai stadium, which includes a new 2,000-seat court one and larger tennis village.
“I didn’t even see the new court yet because today was my first practice after Doha, but it’s nice to stay home. You have your spots, you have some things to do, so it always nice.”
Saturday’s draw has not helped Rybakina’s cause for a quieter or easier week. Her route to the final could see her face No. 7 seed Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals and world No. 5 Coco Gauff in the semis. The field features 16 of the top 20 and 35 of the top 40.
Also competing is world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, one of eight players who secured a first-round bye. The 2024 Wimbledon finalist won here two years ago and returns with a new priority.
“The goal has to be enjoying being on the court, to focus on the work (and) not on the result,” she said.
The Italian lost in the first round in Doha last week to Maria Sakkari, so is happy for a change of scenery, especially given her fond memories of playing in Dubai.
Paolini won the Dubai championships in 2024 to claim her first WTA 1000 title. “I think it is a positive thing to change the place and come back here in Dubai,” said the 30-year-old.
“To me, it’s an amazing place to play tennis, so it’s nice to be back here in Dubai. I think 2024 was a surprise, I remember before winning the tournament, I was like ‘I cannot play well here,’ yet in that year something changed. I don’t know why.”
Paolini is optimistic that the upcoming days can lead to a successful season. “I like these conditions,” she added. “Hopefully it gives me energy for this tournament, but also for the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile Gauff, who has been selected as the face of Mercedes-Benz’s new long-term deal with the WTA Tour, spoke of her pride at seeing major brands aligning with the sport to help grow the women’s game.
For the first time, the nets at the stadium will carry the famous three-pointed star. “I’m happy they decided to support women’s tennis and allow me (to) be the face of that new transition for them,” said Gauff.
“It’s great for the tour, great for women’s sports. It definitely shows we have market value. These big, prestigious brands want to get involved. Rolex has also been part of tennis for a long time.
“I’m very happy to be representing Mercedes. I’m happy, and it’s cool to see the little symbol on the net. I’m like, OK, we’re moving on up.”
