French Open final: Dominic Thiem stands in the way of Rafael Nadal's 11th Roland Garros title

Delight | Rafael Nadal has reached his 24th Grand Slam final
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Dominic Thiem is the man standing in the way of Rafael Nadal’s record-equalling 11th French Open victory.

Nadal’s 6-4 6-1 6-2 victory over Juan Martin Del Potro means he has now reached his 24th Grand Slam final and equals Roger Federer's record for most finals at a single major - Federer's coming at Wimbledon.

Only three times (once when he withdrew with an injury) has the Mallorcan not reached the French Open final since he first re-defined claycourt tennis in 2005.

If Austrian Thiem does win on Sunday in what will be his first Grand Slam final he will join Novak Djokovic and Robin Soderling as the only two players to down Nadal on his favourite claycourt battleground.

Thiem beat Nadal in straight sets in Rome 13 months ago and at the Madrid Masters last month, but in their two previous Roland Garros meetings in 2014 and 2017, the seventh-seeded Austrian won a total of 14 games.

"My feeling is I have a very difficult match against a player that is playing great,” said Nadal.

“I know I have to play my best if I want to have chances.

"Sunday is the day to give my best, the day to increase even a little bit more the level. I hope to be ready to do it. That's the goal."

In Pictures | Roland Garros: French Open 2018

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Thiem, who has fallen at the semi-finals in the last two years at Roland Garros, beat Marco Cecchinato and, while understanding the threat of Nadal, is taking confidence into Sunday’s final.

"I'm aware that here it's tougher. He likes the conditions more here than in Madrid. Best of five is also different story," said Thiem.

"I think also a good thing is that I faced him already twice here.

"I'm not the one who has the pressure.”

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