Rafael Nadal goes for his 11th French Open title on Sunday after beating Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in Friday’s semifinals.
Nadal gets a worthy challenger in the final. Austrian Dominic Thiem, ranked No. 8, handed Nadal his last two losses on clay, one each in French Open lead-up events in 2017 and 2018.
Nadal is 5-3 overall against Thiem on clay since the start of 2016, including a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 win in the 2017 French Open semifinals.
Thiem beat 72nd-ranked Italian Marco Cecchinato 7-5, 7-6 (10), 6-1 in Friday’s early semifinal.