ROLAND GARROS 2018

This is just torture now. Poor Delpo. :(

It'll be over soon.

cldve been a v different match but tennis is fickle n frustrating like that

im still hopeful for thiem/rafa to be compelling; thiems level vs rafa in madrid was incredible

Not exactly looking fwd to it - but praying for a contest.

Thiem's 3-6 vs Nadal on clay, which is a better W/L record on the surface than anyone else*, with the exception of Gaston Gaudio (held Nadal to 3-3 in his teens).

(* - limiting it to players who have ever been in the top 10).

So, yeah, he has a better shot than anyone else in the draw. But Schwartzman had him, damn it! If only it had stayed precisely that damp and muggy for another 90min instead of actually raining.

After a nervous start, Halep now looking bosssss.

Stephens got tight in the second set and has yet to recover - errors all over the place now.

Incredible point to break! Simonaaaa <3

Yay so happy for Simona, after everything she's been through. Well-deserved and the last set was not nearly as lopsided as the scoreline suggests - she was just winning all the key points towards the end.

yay Halep - sadly missed what looked like an excellent final. I want to try and miss today's match. Hopefully Thiem can win that first set, at the least.

Some good stuff from both of them in this match. Thiem is now more into his stride after playing some terrific tennis to break back

Two DF for deuce on his serve..

Thiem came through that - we are now on serve.

Controversial: 40-30, Thiem lets a ball go as its called out. The umpire says in. Deuce

This is an incredible game - lots of god rallies!

what a game - Thiem gets thorough that.

Thiem is playing so great. On serve but you do feel he has to win this set..

rafa already averaging 30 seconds between service points according to the NBC broadcast. (thiem not far behind at 26)

tbh we all need a break too, its tough to just watch

3 SPs Nadal

I mean Nadal made him play one.more.shot and Thiem never made the volley. Nadal masterfully wolfed down that chance - he has taken the 1st set.

ugh this guy will never lose

Nadal is great at finding a way through you - he can just work you out eventually. Probably the best I'll ever see at this.

and yup, bathroom break - let the cunt stew on it

Early break - took a while but got it. This is pretty much over.

ack. expected though (at least after that first set loss)

Nadal is a beast.

man Nadal 0-30 and what a point from Rafa. Toe to toe and the most wonderful down the line, its now 30-30

And he eventually wins that game - time and again..

One last push from Thiem..fantastic rally at 0-15 from Nadal and then a winner just inside the line. Some terrific rallies even at this point.

haha drop shot for BP Thiem - like I say, one last push

drop shot back created the opening to save it

and another one

Watching Nadal when he's like this is incredibly exhausting.

Yeah - ruthless. Although I think Thiem has given us a better final than last year, which isn't saying much.

Nadal serving for the 2nd.

One set away. Your optimist says many things are possible in life - well get him here to talk us through how Thiem is going to win from here?

Thiem came through in that first game with a gorgeous BH winner but is facing another BP here.

and he works him over again..

Right I'm off, its been not so fun. Really wished I watched the final yesterday (although I am not as upset, Thiem will win a slam once Rafa gets injured again...or dies 'lol')

rafa has some sort of hand injury....

he doesn't look great now

Nadal can't hold his racquet because his fingers are cramping but he's still winning points. That is the kind of match this is.

lol otm