French Open 2020: Rafael Nadal avenges recent loss after beating Diego Schwartzman in straight sets

Men’s Singles Semifinal LIVE Updates: Rafael Nadal vs Diego Schwartzman

Now making into the finals, Rafael Nadal will be looking for a 13th French open title along with 100th match win and 20th grand slam.

It is the 99th French Open win for the world no.2 and 12 time French Open champion. Diego will enter top 10 for the first time after making the semi-finals of the Roland Garros.

21:39 IST: In the tie-break Nadal has a massive lead with 6-0. The Spaniard has won the set with a 7-0 win in the tie break.

21:34 IST: A 141 km/hr at 6-5, to make it 15-15. A forehand down the line winner wins Diego the lead. Following it up with a short forehand crosscourt winner, Diego has the game point. It is 6-6

21:30 IST: Rafa wins the advantage thanks to an unforced error. After 12 minutes, Rafa hits a big serve to seal the game. He leads 6-5.

21:26 IST: Diego wins the advantage but Rafa denies him the point after a volley in the open court. At deuce now Rafa wins the advantage, at the crucial game. This time Diego enters and ends a long rally with a smash. It is deuce again.

21:21 IST: At 5-5 on Rafa’s serve, the Argentine leads with double breakpoints. A down the line backhand lands Rafa at 30-40. The second break point s another cross-court winner as it is deuce at 5-5. A third consecutive winner and Rafa leads with advantage.

21:12 IST: Nadal takes the lead with a comfortable hold 5-4. Diego needs to hold to stay in the match. Nadal manages to make it 30-30 but Schwartzman leads 40-30. The duo manages a long rally and Rafa calls Diego on the net. Diego hits another drop it returns but Rafa strikes it on the net. It is 5-5 in the third.

21:08 IST: Rafa leads 4-3 as Schwartzman serves. The Argentine seeks a hold and he gets it! Rafa and Schwartzman are back on serve in the third set. It is 4-4.

21:02 IST: Diego earns a breakpoint at 2-4 but Rafa saves the break. At deuce, Rafa hits the ball just long to give Argentine the second breakpoint. The advantage earned by Rafa going in vain after hitting another ball that lands long. Now Diego has the third breakpoint and he converts.

20:55 IST: It is turning out to be a match filled with breaks. Rafa now breaks back again to lead 4-2 at serve.

20:54 IST: In a turn of event, Nadal is broken now, Diego has succeeded in getting himself another chance as he reduced the difference to 3-2.

20: 41 IST: Nadal holds his service game to make it 2-1. But, Diego Schwartzman is broken yet again as Nadal now leads 3-1. Nadal has won a crucial break and sprints 3-1, only 3 games away from the berth in finals.

20:30 IST: The Spaniard continues the momentum and sails through to win the opening game in four minutes. Diego too wins his serve now levelling things up in set 3.

SET 3 BEGINS

20:21 IST: After holding his serve, Nadal dominates the play to break Diego and seal the set 6-3. After 47 minutes Nadal leads 2 with sets.

20:12 IST: With a triple break point lead now Nadal trails on Diego’s serve. A phenomenal turn of events as Diego comes back to hold trailing 0-40. Rafa serves at 4-3.

20:09 IST: Trailing 0-30 a ball just outside the alley makes Diego lose the next point. Nadal takes charge and holds the service game from there. With a phenomenal drop shot, Nadal seals the game to lead the set, 4-2.

20:01 IST: Diego serves with 15-15 and hits a drop volley short enough for Rafa to not even sprint for it. Diego leads 30-15. A comfortable hold yet again for the Argentine. 3-2 as Nadal serves.

19:58 IST: The ball kisses the line by a cm but the naked eye fails to register it. The ball is called out at 30-30 and Nadal wins another point to lead 3-1.

19:55 IST: In the third game of the set, Schwartzman fails a hold. Nadal is on fire, visibly avenging the loss at Italian Open a couple of weeks ago. Nadal serves at 2-1.

19:48 IST: Rafael Nadal holds to love in the first service game of the second set.

19:46 IST: Schwartman begins set 2 unlike the first set. He holds the opening game and leads 1-0. Nadal to serve.

SET 2 STARTS

FACT CHECK:

• Nadal has never lost the first set in a Roland Garros Semi Final (13-0) and coming into today was 36-3 in sets W-L in this round.

• Nadal has a 95% win rate after winning the first set.

19:24 IST: What a drop and a GAME SET 1 for RAFAEL NADAL

19:30 IST: The second hold for Diego and at 5-3 Nadal is serving for the set.

19:24 IST: The two games have been comfortable holds for the duo. Nadal and Diego have held their serves without having to save any breakpoints. First, hold for Diego in the match. It is 5-2 as Schwartzman serves with new balls.

19:13 IST: A breakpoint down Nadal has hit the first ace of the match followed by an aggressive forehand crosscourt winner, entering the short court. A confident Nadal moves to take the lead 4-1.

19:08 IST: Nadal has a game point but a backhand in the net makes Schwartzman make way to 30-40. Another point for the Argentine as he makes it DEUCE. Nadal wins the Advantage, but thanks to an unforced error, Diego can still break the Spaniard.

19:03 IST: The service hold for Schwartzman looks hard. He has pocketed a double breakpoint with a crackling down the line winner. Nadal converts the point with a smash. Rafa leads 3-1 on his serve.

FACT CHECK: Diego won the first set when they faced each other last time then Rafa won the match in 4 sets. Nadal has dropped 3 sets in previous 12 semis at Roland Garros.

18:59 IST: In the third game, Nadal is again fighting to save a breakpoint. This time Diego Schwartzman wins the point thanks to an unforced error. Nadal leads 2-1.

18:53 IST: Rafael Nadal has tables turned and now wins a breakpoint. With an unforced error, Diego Schwartzman loses his service game after Rafa converts the first breakpoint. Rafa leads 2-0.

18:48 IST: After a series of break points saved and 14 minutes after the game began, Nadal has won his serve game. He saved 2 break points.

18:38 IST: A 28 shots rally has given Diego a chance to break the 12 times French open in his opening service game. With a loose shot, he lets go the chance and it is deuce number 2. With a smash, Nadal has won a game point but misses the ball with a little wide shot that ends in the alley. It is duece number 3 and the opening game has already lasted over 10 minutes.

18:34 IST: Rafael Nadal and Diego Schwartzman begin the clash as they fight for a place to reach the finals of the French Open 2020.

Welcome to the LIVE Updates of French Open 2020 Men’s singles semifinal between Rafael Nadal and Diego Schwartzman. Get all live updates here.

The toughest battle for the reigning champion Rafael Nadal and Diego Schwartzman comes along in the semi-finals of the French Open 2020. Schwartzman has advanced to this stage of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. He poses a real threat to the King of Clay, who has lost only twice at this tournament in his entire career. 

Match details

• Fixture: Rafael Nadal vs Diego Schwartzman
• Date: 9 October 2020
• Tournament: Roland Garros 2020
• Round: Semifinals
• Venue: Paris, France
• Category: Grand Slam
• Surface: Red clay
• Prize money: Approx. €425,250

Rafael Nadal vs Diego Schwartzman: Match Preview

The World No.2 hasn’t dropped a single set in this tournament yet. In his quarter-final match against Jannik Sinner, the 19-year-old was the only individual to come close to taking a set-off of Rafa. Nadal won against Sinner 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-1. He is looking to lay claim to his 20th Grand Slam title at this tournament. 

Diego Schwartzman on the other hand, is on a high from his victory over the U.S Open 2020 champion Dominic Thiem. The duo produced a spectacular display of tennis. The Argentine conquered the World No.3 7-6(1), 5-7, 6-7(6), 5-7, 6-2. He had straight-sets victory in his early rounds. Diego now stands to pose a severe threat to the reigning French Open champion.