Nadal-Schwartzman Roland Garros, Rafa va in finale

Rafael Nadal takes a juicy revenge, after the destruction of the Foro Italico, and beats Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-3 7-6 in three sets, qualifying for the 13th time in his career for the Roland Garros final. His tournament, his field, his audience, everything was on his side in a semi-final played essentially at a very high level. For the Argentine a game on which he weighed in a decisive way the 5 hours and passes necessary for the quarterfinals to beat Dominic Thiem.

the match

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First game with Nadal serving and first backhand blocked by the Spaniard; then two errors by Schwartzman and the first winner by Rafa with the slap on the forefront of the line. However, Rafa also makes two mistakes and the advantages of the little Argentinian immediately conquer the break ball with a beautiful crossed backhand. For the Spaniard one first exit is enough to cancel the chance. Rafa recovers a short ball and with the smash he returns to have the third game ball of the match but misses the tenth point of the game with a diagonal backhand with ends in the corridor. The Argentine returns to the break ball with two fabulous setbacks: with the first he sends Rafa out of bounds and with the second he scores a short ball that Rafa doesn’t even try to catch. The Spaniard, however, is not there and at the net, with a master stop volley, he also cancels the second chance. It takes 14 minutes and a space cross from Rafa to close a first game with the two already drooling at the mouth. Schwartzman’s first turn is faster; a double fault gives Rafa the break point that the Spaniard immediately transforms thanks to the Argentine’s backhand error. And we are already 2-0. Rafa, however, is still struggling in his turn and so the counterbreak immediately arrives. With two smashes, Rafa again breaks the bar from the Argentine and rises 3-1. The arsenal of the Spaniard is well stocked; Rafa goes to the net to take the game of 4-1 and then the Argentine holds the serve for the first time, shortening for the 4-2. Two rounds of easy service for those who beat and Nadal gets to serve for the 5-3 ahead set. The first point goes to a splendid Schwartzman who attacks on the Spaniard’s backhand. Rafa sticks with the backhand for 15-30, but with a first to come out he recovers for 30 all. Another first, this time in the center and set point that arrives at the end of the first hour of play. Rafa’s forehand stops in the middle of the net for 40 even. With yet another diagonal winning backhand Rafa returns to set point. It is a very long exchange that Diego makes sure by forcing Nadal to make a mistake. With the short ball straight, third set point for Rafa who transforms when the Argentine sinks the response into the net. 6-3 for Rafa in a 64-minute set with three very long games, all on the Spaniard’s serve.

second set

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In the third game of the second set Rafa pushes further on the accelerator. From his racquet come unstoppable longline slashes that Schwartzman cannot harpoon. The Spaniard must be sent quickly, he does not even grant a break point and also closes the second set 6-3 with another break. But if the first set was a much more contested and uncertain 6-3, the second set the gap between the two becomes frighteningly wide. After an hour and 52 minutes, Rafa is only one set from his 13th final at Roland Garros.

appointment with history

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In the fourth game of the third set Schwartzman argues with the referee who indicates a previously marked out ball. The Argentine loses his serve to zero and Rafa rushes to the finish line climbing 3-1. By now Schwartzman’s shots don’t hurt anymore, but suddenly Nadal has a small failure. In the fifth game, as had happened in the fifth game of the first set, he offers two break points to his rival who takes the opportunity to recover the disadvantage and serve 3-2 down. Three more breaks follow, the last of which after Rafa misses the ball to get on 5-3. So there is the connection of the Argentine who goes to 4 all. Rafa keeps his serve at zero and Schwartzman, after 2 hours and 40 minutes, goes to serve to extend the game. Even when the Argentine has the field open, he can no longer do anything wrong. He invents a very difficult short ball and goes under 15-30. Fix it with a first that touches the line in the center. Even Rafa’s ball travels at slower speeds, makes a mistake with the backhand down the line and Diego, after recovering a short ball, catches the 5 all. It is the moment that decides the game. Rafa goes under 15-40, but finds three straight winning straight. The Argentine returns aggressive, attacks and forces Rafa to miss a backhand down the line. We are still 40 even, then Diego’s attack for the third break point. Rafa cancels it with a not easy serve and volley. The eleventh game is still interminable; Rafa cancels three break points and goes up 6-5. When the game enters the fourth hour of play, the Argentine serves to reach the tie break. Don a winning forehand goes up 30-15, then a very tight backhand cross for 40-15. Another straight out and tie break. There is no more time to joke, Rafa increases in intensity, goes to the net to take the mini break and then Schwartzman misses with the forehand for the Spaniard 3-0. The Argentine does not close the first smash, misses the second and goes down 4-0. Another 3 points and Rafa closes 7 to zero after 3 hours and 8 minutes. Rafa is only one win to reach Roger Federer’s 20 Grand Slam wins.