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As it happenedended1560097900

French Open final: Rafael Nadal powers to 12th title after beating Dominic Thiem in Paris

Re-live all the action from Roland Garros

Kieran Jackson
Sunday 09 June 2019 16:03 BST
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Who has the most grand slams wins in tennis?

Rafael Nadal kept his iron grip on the Coupe des Mousquetaires by beating Dominic Thiem in four sets to win a 12th French Open title.

It was a repeat of last year's final and, although Thiem managed to win a set this time, he was unable to join Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic as the only men to beat Nadal at Roland Garros, going down 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1.

Nadal now stands on his own as the most successful singles player, male or female, at a single grand slam having moved clear of the 11 titles won by Margaret Court at the Australian Open. Re-live the action below:

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Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's French Open men's final!

Kieran Jackson will be taking the reins from 1pm so make sure to tune in as he takes you through what should be a thrilling clash between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem

Samuel Lovett9 June 2019 10:35
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Well, the end is nigh. 

After what has been a thrilling two weeks of tennis in Paris, it all concludes this afternoon with the men's singles final between Austrian Dominic Thiem and 11-time champion Rafael Nadal, in a repeat of last year's final. 

The match is due to start at 2pm (BST), and I'm pleased to report the weather is due to be overcast with an UNLIKELY chance of rain, so hopefully we'll start on time unlike the women's final yesterday, which was delayed due to Thiem's semi-final against Novak Djokovic overrunning... by a day.

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 12:59
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Although, understandably, Nadal is the heavy favourite this afternoon, Thiem did actually win their last encounter, on the clay in Barcelona six weeks ago - 6-4 6-4. 

The Spaniard is ahead in the overall H2H though (8-4), with their last clash in a major coming at last year's US Open: a thrilling match which Nadal won in a fifth set tiebreak.

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:07
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In last year's final, Nadal had too much for Thiem, coming through 6-4 6-3 6-2. 

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:14
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A reminder that Nadal has had an extra 24 hours rest - he outplayed Roger Federer on Friday afternoon, yet Thiem only emerged the victor against Novak Djokovic yesterday afternoon. 

Could that prove crucial today, especially if the match goes deep into a deciding set? 

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:22
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Interesting... 

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:26
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Here's Dominic Thiem's road to the final: 

R1 - bt Tommy Paul 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2

R2 - bt Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5

R3 - bt Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5

R4 - bt Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4, 6-2

QF - bt Karen Khachanov 6-2 6-4 6-2

SF - bt Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:30
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Rafael Nadal's road to the final: 

R1 - bt Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-1, 6-3

R2 - bt Yannick Maden 6-1, 6-2, 6-4

R3 - bt David Goffin 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

R4 - bt Juan Ignacio Londero 6-2, 6-3, 6-3

QF - bt Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1, 6-3

SF - bt Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:40
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Less than 15 minutes until the players are due on Court Philippe Chatrier!

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:50
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Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 13:55

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