Roger Federer: Rafael Nadal equals rival's INCREDIBLE Grand Slam record at French Open
RAFAEL NADAL’s win over Juan Martin del Potro yesterday saw him draw level with long-time rival Roger Federer for yet another huge Open Era accolade.
Federer stood as the only man to reach 11 finals at one single Grand Slam, having won eight Wimbledon titles and also lost three other finals.
But world No 1 Nadal - having been so dominant in the past 13 years at the French Open - booked an 11th Roland Garros final by beating Del Potro 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 yesterday.
Nadal, who has won 85 of 87 matches at this event, has won all of his previous 10 finals to make him convincingly the most successful entrant ever in the French capital.
The 31-year-old faces Dominic Thiem at Stade Philippe Chatrier tomorrow (2pm) looking to maintain his 100 per-cent finals win rate in Paris.
Speaking after his success against Del Potro, 16-time Grand Slam champion Nadal said: “Today is a day to rejoice. When you’re in a final like Roland Garros, it’s a great happiness.
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“Being in a final here is something I should rejoice about and be happy about. It may sound easy and logical, but I don’t want it to be.
“It’s not a routine. I don’t want anyone to think that it’s a routine. It’s a day that I should rejoice about, enjoy.
“It would be even more arrogant to think that all this is normal. I have to value what’s happening to me.
“When you end up in the finals of Roland Garros after winning in Monte Carlo and in Rome, you have to be happy and recognise the value of things.
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When you end up in the finals of Roland Garros after winning in Monte Carlo and in Rome, you have to be happy and recognise the value of things.
“I’m happy to be where I am. I value this very much, especially at this advanced stage of my career and in view of the injuries I have suffered throughout my career. It’s great to still be in the competition at this time.”
The Spaniard has played in 23 previous Grand Slam finals, two more than Novak Djokovic but seven shy of 20-time winner Federer.
Nadal has reached the final of one of the tour’s four biggest events in 12 of the last 14 years, only missing out on a Major showdown in his injury-hit 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Federer could pull clear of Nadal again at this year's Wimbledon next month, where he looks for a ninth success as the reigning champion.