1.01 pm EDT13:01.
First set: Novak Djokovic 4-1 * Stefanos Tsitsipas.
This is so excellent from Djokovic, who has actually started at such a high strength and he likewise is serving truly well. At 30-15, he blended things up on serve with a kicker to Tsitsipass backhand before crunching a forehand winner behind it. Then he shut off the hold to 15 with an unreturned 109mph second serve.
12.57 pm EDT12:57.
Better work from Tsitsipas, who pieces together a definitive hold to 15 to put himself on the board. Excellent serving and he finished with a searing crosscourt forehand.
First set: Novak Djokovic * 3-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas.
12.53 pm EDT12:53.
First set: Novak Djokovic 3-0 * Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic sweeps through a love service video game with some fantastic serving to combine his break. Tsitsipas is attempting to take the descent on, however he is making a lot of errors now. That escalated really rapidly.
12.51 pm EDT12:51.
After being unable to take his chances in the opening game, Tsitsipas opened with a bad service video game and numerous double faults to find himself down 15-40.
Set: Novak Djokovic * 2-0 Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Unlike Tsitsipas, Djokovic just required one. On the first break point, he created a magical shot, ferreting out an excellent Tsitsipas crosscourt forehand and redirecting it for a running forehand winner.
12.47 pm EDT12:47.
First set: Novak Djokovic 1-0 * Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Well, that was some opening game. Djokovic saved 4 break indicate open with a hold. A lot more notably, the level is currently so high and both gamers are sharp and aggressive.
From 0-40 down, Djokovic conserved the break points well. He found two huge serves from the left side and he slotted a backhand down-the-line winner after an extreme point.
Tsitsipas maintained pressure, drilling a crosscourt forehand to create a 4th break point. From the fourth break point, Djokovic fired 2 forehand winners in a row to bring himself to advantage. He eventually took the video game with a beautiful little ability, curling a backhand passing shot around Tsitsipas after bringing him forward with a drop shot.
12.37 pm EDT12:37.
He is serving very well, his movement has been unbelievable and he continues to be so committed to moving forward to the web behind his aggression. Tsitsipas hasnt dropped a set since losing the first 2 sets of his competition.
12.19 pm EDT12:19.
Rafael Nadal on how the match changed in the 3rd set:.
A number of points. I had a couple of errors, yeah he played some assets and then I had one volley here … I understand with Diego its very difficult up until the end. Hes one of the players who makes more breaks on the tour without a doubt. But I know how the match is. A few weeks ago, I lost in Rome so I expected a really difficult match. Pleased the method that I played. I think I have actually been improving and today has been a really favorable match for me.
12.14 pm EDT12:14.
Rafael Nadal is now 99-2 at Roland Garros. Please let that sink in.
12.13 pm EDT12:13.
Rafael Nadal commemorates after winning his semi-final match against Diego Schwartzman. Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPA.
That was some detour from Nadal in the third set after an otherwise solid efficiency, but he got it performed in the tiebreak. He enjoys a record-extending 13th last and he is still yet to drop a set.
Updated.
at 12.22 pm EDT.
Rafael Nadal defeats Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-3 7-6( 0) to reach final.
12.12 pm EDT12:12.
Then Nadal was stranded at the net and demonstrated his fantastic hands by reacting to a ball flying straight at him before putting away the 2nd volley for 2-0. That sufficed to battle away the momentum and now he stands at 6-0.
Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 6-6 Diego Schwartzman.
To his credit, after all the battles in this set, Nadal opened the tiebreak by stealing 2 points with a couple of touches of radiance. On the very first, Schwartzman flitted into the net behind a number of huge forehands, just for Nadsl to slip a backhand passing shot behind him.
12.08 pm EDT12:08.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 6-6 Diego Schwartzman.
An amazing hold from Diego Schwartzman, who is all of a sudden on fire. From 15-15, he produced three top class points in a row: a screaming forehand down-the-line winner, an outrageous angled backhand winner after a long point and after that a point-ending inside out forehand. A tiebreak will decide this confusing and interesting third set.
12.03 pm EDT12:03.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 6-5 * Diego Schwartzman.
On advantage Nadal, it was Schwartzmans time to step up with his forehand, burying two successive big point-ending forehands to develop a 3rd break point.
From 15-40 down and a possible fourth set looming, Nadal came alive again. He conserved the very first break point with a searing forehand down-the-line, then he connected with a fast serve-forehand 1-2. At deuce he produced a third consecutive forehand winner.
On the third break point, Nadal altered things up entirely, ambuscading it with a brave serve and volley. After a couple more deuces, Nadal finally discovered a good unreturned swerving wide serve on game point to seal the hold.
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at 12.18 pm EDT.
Nadal holds, however this has become a lot more complicated than anticipated. He opened the video game with a couple more mysterious errors to find himself down double break point.
Rafael Nadal considers the ball. Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA.
11.51 am EDT11:51.
After a great unreturned serve from the Argentine at 15-30, Nadal had his opportunities. At 30-30, he perfectly opened the court and established a backhand down the line, just to stumble into the backhand and hit the internet.
Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 * 5-5 Diego Schwartzman.
From 15-30 down and 2 points from defeat, Schwartzman pieced together a massive hold to keep the pressure on Nadal.
At video game point, Schwartzman tossed and controlled the point everything at Nadal, who tracked whatever down previously responding with actually good dropshot. Under tremendous pressure, Schwartzman chased it down and produced a beautiful counter drop shot that was just sufficient to generate a Nadal mistake. Great fight from the Argentine to in some way keep this alive.
11.43 am EDT11:43.
Rafael Nadal plays a backhand return. Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images.
Better from Nadal, who holds serve to like after losing his serve twice in a row. Better serving from Nadal, who held with a big serve and down-the-line forehand 1-2 punch, stressed with a loud “vamos”. Back to basics. One video game away.
Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 5-4 * Diego Schwartzman.
Updated.
at 12.00 pm EDT.
11.41 am EDT11:41.
Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 * 4-4 Diego Schwartzman.
Schwartzman rolls through a quick hold to 15 to put some pressure on Nadals shoulders. As soon as once again some careless unforced errors from Nadal, who ended with a poor return. He has plenty to think about here.
11.37 am EDT11:37.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 4-3 * Diego Schwartzman.
Nadal conserved the break point at 30-40 with an unreturned body serve, however then he fired a backhand well long. On the 2nd break point, he entered the court and nervelessly demolished a forehand down-the-line winner.
An excellent effort from Schwartzman but this has been a very odd duration because Nadal seemed to have taken control of the match at * 3-1.
It seemed that the video game would swing Nadals method as he reached video game point, but Schwartzman waited by definitely drilling the ball down the centre of the court off both wings up until he generated a backhand mistake. Nadal then included 2 errors, consisting of a routine forehand error.
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Another scrappy service game for Nadal, who drops serve when again from game point.
11.26 am EDT11:26.
That return did not last long. Nadal breaks to love after a series of elementary mistakes from Schwartzman. On break point, Schwartzman netted his second routine backhand of the video game to meekly hand it back.
Nadal ended his previous service video game so severely, but as always he refused to allow it to remain. You can only appreciate his mindset.
Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 * 4-2 Diego Schwartzman.
11.23 am EDT11:23.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 3-2 * Diego Schwartzman.
Nadal ramped up his intensity to save the break point, ending a long point with a big inside-in forehand. He could not repeat that kind. From deuce, Nadal sent out 2 successive forehands broad.
Diego Schwartzman returns the ball to Rafael Nadal. Picture: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images.
Admirably, Schwartzman is still battling tough and he has actually forced himself back into the 3rd set. He burst into this return video game with blazing hostility and eventually it settled as he drilled a backhand down-the-line to reach 30-30. Then Nadal missed out on a simple forehand to offer him break point.
Upgraded.
at 11.46 am EDT.
11.14 am EDT11:14.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 * 3-1 Diego Schwartzman.
Schwartzman drops his serve to enjoy as Nadal continues to roll with his momentum. In reality, he provided more resistance to the umpire Aurelie Tourte he argued with her about a mark at 0-30 than to Nadal.
11.10 am EDT11:10.
Here is my piece expecting the ladiess last tomorrow in between Iga Swiatek and Sofia Kenin.
11.09 am EDT11:09.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 2-1 * Diego Schwartzman.
Rafael Nadal concentrates on playing a return. Photograph: Julien de Rosa/EPA.
Nadal rolls through another easy hold, this time to enjoy. Nadal continues to serve very well and he is also opening his shoulders off the ground, particularly crunching a huge crosscourt forehand winner at 30-0. The pressure is developing on Schwartzmans serve.
Upgraded.
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11.06 am EDT11:06.
Today: 10%.
Previous rounds: 55%.
Updated.
at 11.07 am EDT.
Schwartzmans return video games won:.
Harsh.
11.05 am EDT11:05.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 * 1-1 Diego Schwartzman.
Schwartzman opens his account in set 3 with a quick hold to 15, sealed with an ace down the T.
There was an extraordinary point at 30-15, in which Nadal protected 2 big blows from Schwartzman, produced a backhand lob over Schwartzmans head. After all of that work, Nadal shanked his forehand well out off Schwartmans limp action. Otherwise, a routine hold for the Argentine.
11.02 am EDT11:02.
3rd set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 1-0 * Diego Schwartzman.
Nadal rolls through a quick hold to 15 to open the 3rd set. Some terrific serving from Nadal, including his third ace.
10.58 am EDT10:58.
2nd set statistics:.
At video game point, Schwartzman controlled the point and tossed whatever at Nadal, who tracked everything down before responding with really excellent dropshot. Schwartzman rolls through a quick hold to 15 to put some pressure on Nadals shoulders. Nadal breaks to love after a series of primary errors from Schwartzman. Nadal ramped up his strength to save the break point, ending a long point with a huge inside-in forehand. There was an amazing point at 30-15, in which Nadal safeguarded two substantial blows from Schwartzman, produced a backhand lob over Schwartzmans head.
Rafael Nadal – 80% very first serves in, 81% very first serve points won, 75% 2nd serve points won, 8 winners 7 unforced mistakes, 41% return points won.
Diego Schwartzman – 66% very first serves in, 58% first serve points won, 60% second serve points won, 20% return points won 9 winners 12 unforced mistakes.
A better serving performance in set two from Nadal, who only lost 4 points on his serve in the entire set versus among the top three returners worldwide. Schwartzman requires a miracle and it is hard to think that he will get one.
