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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:

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

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The players have just been introduced to the crowd, and the pre-match warm-up is imminent!

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:04
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A few stats ahead of this clash: 

  • Rafael Nadal is chasing his 18th Grand Slam title, and 12th at Roland Garros. 
  • Dominic Thiem is looking to become the first Austrian to win a Grand Slam since Thomas Muster won in Paris in 1995. If he did win, he would only be the second-ever Austrian winner of a major. 
  • In their 12 previous clashes, only once (at last year's US Open) has the first-set loser gone onto win the match. 
Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:08
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We're all ready to go here!

Nadal will begin on serve...

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:11
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Thiem 0-0 Nadal (15-15)

A point apiece to begin, and play is delayed as a crying baby puts the players off - Rafa refusing to serve. 

Fair enough - very distracting.

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:15
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Thiem 0-0 Nadal* (30-30)

A Nadal backhand drifts wide and Thiem has an opening at 15-30, before going long with a forehand in the next rally. 30-30. 

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:15
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*Thiem 0-1 Nadal

Thiem misses a backhand winner by inches on the sideline, and then goes long on his return - Nadal secures the opening game.

Already, the quality of the hitting from both players is top notch. 

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:17
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*Thiem 0-1 Nadal (30-30)

Brilliant point at 30-15 - Nadal chases down an exquisite Thiem drop shot, and then anticipates the passing shot and times a drop volley. Two points apiece.

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:21
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Thiem 1-1 Nadal*

I know it's early on, but that already feels like an important hold for Thiem. 

An error on each Nadal wing into the net hands the game to the Austrian.

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:22
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Thiem 1-1 Nadal* (40-30)

Rafa looks to be holding comfortably to 15, but Thiem does brilliantly to stay in the point, and then out-powers Nadal with his backhand crosscourt. 

Eyebrows raised by Mr Nadal - can he escape with the game? 

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:27
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Thiem 1-1 Nadal* (40-40)

Not yet, anyway. 

Nadal finds himself in no man's land approaching the net, and nets a half-volley. 

First deuce game of the match...

Kieran Jackson9 June 2019 14:28

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