French Open, Day 13: Nadal and Djokovic advance to the final
If your goal was to see some exciting five-set match on Friday at Roland Garros, you were probably let down, but that didn't stop anyone from marveling at just how great Rafael Nadal played.
The eight-time French Open champion is an absolute master on clay, even when his opponents get as tough as two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray.
Nadal dominated Murray on Friday, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 but even those scores can't show how lopsided this one was. Rafa collected 24 winners to go with his 14 unforced errors, while Murray basically flipped those numbers with 11 winners to his 26 unforced errors.
Novak Djokovic's match was closer than that early on, with Ernests Gulbis taking the first set, but after that it was all Novak, winning in four sets to give us the final most anticipated seeing.
Nadal is 64-1 at Roland Garros – yes, losing just one match ever – but if there is a man out there that has the confidence to take him out on clay, it's Djokovic.
The six-time Grand Slam champion beat Nadal earlier this year on clay, and has won the past four meetings between these two. If Djokovic can somehow win on Sunday, it will complete his career Grand Slam while Nadal is going for his 14th Grand Slam, which would tie him with Pete Sampras for second all time, so plenty to play for on Sunday between these two.
This reaction says it all for Andy Murray, who had a great French Open but ran into the force that is Rafael Nadal on clay.
I liked the subtle matching Rafa hats with his outfit by Nadal's camp.
“I’m not going to celebrate. It’s not enough. I need to reach more now. Now I’m addicted to success.” — Ernests Gulbis, after losing in the semifinals to Novak Djokovic
Saturday marks the final for the women, with Maria Sharapova taking on Simona Halep. Sharapova will be looking for her fifth Grand Slam title and second French Open win in the past three years while Halep is going for her first ever Grand Slam win.
Most people expect this one to be tight, as Halep has yet to drop a set in Paris while Sharapova has struggled early but come on strong in each of her past three matches.
Coverage kicks off on NBC at 9 AM ET.
