The stage is set for a blockbuster finish to this year’s French Open, with Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal to duke it out for the men’s championship, with history beckoning for the Spaniard if he can salute tonight.
The King of Clay will start the hottest of favourites to land ‘La Decima’.
Having not claimed a Grand Slam title since last winning here in 2014, after which he endured several injury woes (including a wrist injury which forced him out of Roland Garros mid-tournament last year), many believed that his best form was well past him.
However, seemingly inspired by Roger Federer’s run to the Australian Open title at age 35, the Spaniard has turned back the clock to rediscover the form that saw him unbeatable on clay for so many years.
He landed ‘La Decima’ at both Monte Carlo and Barcelona, won his fifth title in Madrid, and was defeated by Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals at the Rome Masters last month.
The 31-year-old was, however, able to gain his revenge on the Austrian where it mattered most – here at Roland Garros in the semi-finals.
Prior to that win over Thiem, Nadal won his first four games, all in straight sets, including a record 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in the third round, and a just-as-ruthless win over fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut in the fourth.
He was on the verge of another straight-sets win in the quarter-finals, but was stopped in his tracks when another compatriot, Pablo Carreno Busta, retired at 0-2 down in the second set.
Regardless, Nadal will be wary of the challenge that awaits him in 2015 French Open champion Wawrinka.
The 32-year-old endured a poor lead-up, with disappointing early exits in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, but did retain his title in Geneva in the week before the French Open.
The Swiss won each of his five matches in straight sets, including those over 15th seed Gael Monfils in the fourth round and a straight-forward win over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals.
Twelve months after having his title defence ended by Andy Murray in the semi-finals, Wawrinka was able to get his revenge on the Brit, defeating him in one of the best non-Nadal clay court matches in recent history.
Wawrinka dropped his first set of the tournament, after he was broken while serving for the opening set, and blew a set point in the tiebreak that ensued. He also led 3-0 in the third set, but lost it 5-7, leaving him two sets to one down and on the verge of a second straight semi-final exit.
However, he climbed off the canvas, forcing a fifth set after taking a thrilling tiebreak 7-3 in the fourth, before wiping the floor in the decider, 6-1.
The reward for him is what has proven to be tennis’ Mission Impossible over the years: Nadal in a French Open final.
In nine previous finals at Roland Garros, Nadal has dismissed all before him, defeating Roger Federer (four times), Novak Djokovic (twice), Mariano Puerta, Robin Soderling and David Ferrer and conceding just five sets.
Wawrinka will, therefore, become the sixth different finalist the Spaniard has faced in a final in Paris.
The Swiss does, however, have the edge of having defeated Nadal in a Grand Slam final before, the 2014 Australian Open – although he had lost his previous twelve meetings against Nadal, all in straight sets.
Including that breakthrough at Melbourne Park more than three years ago, it is three-all in the last six meetings between the pair.
Wawrinka can also boast a win over Nadal on clay, in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Rome Masters. That, of course, preceded his run to his first French Open title, in which he upset Djokovic in the final.
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Here is everything you need to know ahead of the French Open men’s final.
[3] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) versus [4] Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Sunday, June 11
Not before 3pm local time (11pm AEST)
Court Philippe Chatrier
Head-to-head
All matches: Nadal 15-3
At Grand Slams: Nadal 2-1
In Grand Slam finals: Wawrinka 1-0
At the French Open: Nadal 1-0
In all finals: Nadal 2-1
Last meeting: Nadal won 6-1, 6-4, quarter-finals, 2016 Monte Carlo Masters
Last Grand Slam meeting: Wawrinka won 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, final, 2014 Australian Open
Last meeting at the French Open: Nadal won 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, 2013 quarter-finals
Stan Wawrinka’s road to the final
Round 1: defeated [Q] Jozef Kovalik (SVK) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
Round 2: defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
Round 3: defeated [28] Fabio Fognini (ITA) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0, 6-2
Round 4: defeated [15] Gael Monfils (FRA) 7-5, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
Quarter-finals: defeated [7] Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
Semi-finals: defeated [1] Andy Murray (GBR) 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
Previous best result: Won (2015)
Rafael Nadal’s road to the final
Round 1: defeated Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-1
Round 2: defeated Robin Haase (NED) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
Round 3: defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-0, 6-1, 6-0
Round 4: defeated [17] Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP) 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
Quarter-finals: defeated [20] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 6-2, 2-0 ret.
Semi-finals: defeated [6] Dominic Thiem (AUT) 6-3, 6-4, 6-0
Previous best result: Won nine times (2005-09, 2010-14)
Stats that matter
Prediction
Rafael Nadal in straight sets.
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