Rafael Nadal showed exactly why he is called the ‘King of Clay’ after defeating Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 to claim an incredible 11th Roland-Garros title and a 17th Grand Slam, JUANDRE JOUBERT reports

The Spaniard, playing in his 11th final on Philippe Chatrier, showed exactly why he has never lost a final in Paris. He came out the blocks lightning fast to break Thiem at the first time of asking. Thiem though showed that he was up for the fight by breaking Nadal in the very next game and by holding to tie things up at 2-2. Nadal failed to convert a couple of break-points in the games that followed, but he got the one that counted in the 10th game. He upped his aggression and attacked every point to earn the break and took the first set 6-4.

Nadal had an easy hold to start the second. While it didn’t go as planned for Thiem who saved four break-points on his serve, but he could not do it a fifth time and Nadal took an early 2-0 lead. Thiem had a chance to break back in the seventh, but Nadal kept his nerve to retain his lead. He had no further troubles and took the second 6-3.

Thiem had to do everything in his power to not lose serve in the first game of the third, as he saved four break-points to take a 1-0 lead. Nadal though wasn’t as forgiving in the third, as he broke at the second time of asking. With a 2-1 lead, Nadal had issues with his left hand, ripping his sweatband off as well as all the taping, stating that he cannot feel his fingers. That did not slow him down, as he served out the game to take a 3-1 lead. The doctor did visit him again, but Nadal opted not to take an injury time-out. Nadal looked to finish points as early as possible by charging the net, and it worked. Thiem still had no answer for the Spaniard’s serve. Nadal, now leading 4-2, broke for a second time in the third to take a 5-2 lead. Nadal squandered four championship points, but he finally took the fifth to claim an 11th Roland-Garros crown.

Photo: Cedric Lecocq / FFT