The world number 2 Rafael Nadal is only one victory away from a historic thirteenth coronation at Roland Garros after his qualification, Friday October 9, for the final at the expense of the Argentinian Diego Schwartzman (14th), in three sets, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/0).

At 34, Rafael Nadal is also only one success away from equaling the record of twenty Grand Slam trophies held by Roger Federer.

In the final, the Spaniard will face the world number 1, Novak Djokovic, or the young Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6th).

"For me, it's incredible to play the final at Roland Garros once again," he said.

Lucky No.13 awaits… @ RafaelNadal notches a straight sets win over Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-3 7-6 (0) to reach his fourth straight, and 13th overall #RolandGarros final.

pic.twitter.com/2o55EEWgKA

- Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) October 9, 2020

Against Schwartzman, the only player to have beaten him on ocher in 2020, in Rome in the quarter-finals, the first set stretched for just over an hour.

The first game alone lasted thirteen minutes.

But, despite the resistance of the little Argentinian (1.68 m), Nadal early widened the gap (2-0, then 3-1).

Schwartzman, for the first time in his career in the last four in Grand Slam, at 28, has overall committed too many unforced errors (48) to really push the Mallorcan to his limits.

However, he shoved him further in the third set, by "breaking" twice, to return to 3-2, then 4-3, and going so far as to get three break points to lead 6-5.

But Nadal bravely dismissed them, and concluded with an impeccable decisive game to win in just over three hours.

So much so that he climbed to the final without having let slip a single set for the fifth time in his career.

Schwartzman is "better every time"

"It was a very difficult match, especially in these conditions," said the Spaniard, even if, quite exceptionally since the start of the Paris fortnight, this first semi-final was played under the sun.

"In the third set I made a few mistakes and he played well," he added.

"I played a lot against him (ten times before today, Nadal was leading 9-1). He's better every time. Two days ago, he had a great game against Dominic (Thiem, beaten in five sets after more than five hours of play). Today it worked for me and I'm very happy, "he added.

Rafael Nadal thus reached his 28th Grand Slam final.

In total, he recorded his 99th victory at Roland Garros.

He only lost twice, in 2009, in the round of 16 against Sweden's Robin Söderling, and in 2015, in the quarter-finals against Djokovic.

He forfeited before his third round in 2016.

Nadal will therefore play his thirteenth final on Parisian clay on Sunday.

No other player has reached more than six.

The Spaniard triumphed at Roland Garros between 2005 and 2008, 2010 and 2014, and since 2017.

With AFP

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