French Open semi-finals: Rafael Nadal v Diego Schwartzman – live! – The Guardian

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 *5-5 Diego Schwartzman

From 15-30 down and two points from defeat, Schwartzman pieced together an enormous hold to keep the pressure on Nadal.

After a good unreturned serve from the Argentine at 15-30, Nadal had his chances. At 30-30, he perfectly opened up the court and set up a backhand down the line, only to stumble into the backhand and hit the net.

At game point, Schwartzman controlled the point and threw everything at Nadal, who tracked everything down before responding with really good dropshot. Under immense pressure, Schwartzman chased it down and produced a lovely counter drop shot that was just good enough to elicit a Nadal error. Great fight from the Argentine to somehow keep this alive.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 5-4* Diego Schwartzman

Much better from Nadal, who holds serve to love after losing his serve twice in a row. Much better serving from Nadal, who held with a big serve and down-the-line forehand 1-2 punch, punctuated with a loud “vamos”. Back to basics. One game away.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 *4-4 Diego Schwartzman

Schwartzman rolls through a quick hold to 15 to put some pressure on Nadal’s shoulders. Once again some sloppy unforced errors from Nadal, who ended with a poor return. He has plenty to think about here.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 4-3* Diego Schwartzman

Another scrappy service game for Nadal, who drops serve once again from game point.

Nadal saved the break point at 30-40 with an unreturned body serve, but then he fired a backhand well long. On the second break point, he stepped into the court and nervelessly demolished a forehand down-the-line winner.

It seemed that the game would swing Nadal’s way as he reached game point, but Schwartzman saved it by absolutely drilling the ball down the centre of the court off both wings until he elicited a backhand error. Nadal then threw in two errors, including a routine forehand error.

A good effort from Schwartzman but this has been a very strange period since Nadal seemed to have taken control of the match at *3-1.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 *4-2 Diego Schwartzman

That comeback did not last very long. Nadal breaks to love after a series of elementary errors from Schwartzman. On break point, Schwartzman netted his second routine backhand of the game to meekly hand it back.

Nadal ended his previous service game so badly, but as always he refused to allow it to linger. You can only respect his mentality.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 3-2* Diego Schwartzman

Admirably, Schwartzman is still fighting hard and he has forced himself back into the third set. He burst into this return game with blazing aggression and eventually it paid off as he drilled a backhand down-the-line to reach 30-30. Then Nadal missed an easy forehand to give him break point.

Nadal ramped up his intensity to save the break point, ending a long point with a huge inside-in forehand. However, he couldn’t repeat that form. From deuce, Nadal sent two consecutive forehands wide.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 *3-1 Diego Schwartzman

Schwartzman drops his serve to love as Nadal continues to roll with his momentum. In truth, he offered more resistance to the umpire Aurelie Tourte he argued with her about a mark at 0-30 than to Nadal.

Here is my piece looking ahead to the women’s final tomorrow between Iga Swiatek and Sofia Kenin.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 2-1* Diego Schwartzman

Nadal rolls through another easy hold, this time to love. Nadal continues to serve extremely well and he is also opening up his shoulders off the ground, particularly crunching a big crosscourt forehand winner at 30-0. The pressure is building on Schwartzman’s serve.

Schwartzman’s return games won:

Previous rounds: 55%

Today: 10%

Brutal.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 *1-1 Diego Schwartzman

Schwartzman opens his account in set three with a quick hold to 15, sealed with an ace down the T.

There was an incredible point at 30-15, in which Nadal defended two huge blows from Schwartzman, produced a backhand lob over Schwartzman’s head. After all of that work, Nadal shanked his forehand well out off Schwartman’s limp response. Otherwise, a routine hold for the Argentine.

Third set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-3 1-0* Diego Schwartzman

Nadal rolls through a quick hold to 15 to open the third set. Some great serving from Nadal, including his third ace.

Second set stats:

Rafael Nadal – 80% first serves in, 81% first serve points won, 75% second serve points won, 8 winners 7 unforced errors, 41% return points won

Diego Schwartzman – 66% first serves in, 58% first serve points won, 60% second serve points won, 20% return points won 9 winners 12 unforced errors

A much better serving performance in set two from Nadal, who only lost 4 points on his serve in the entire set against one of the top three returners in the world. Schwartzman needs a miracle and it is difficult to believe that he will get one.

Sadly for Schwartzman, the errors piled up in the final game. He double faulted at 30-15 and then sent a forehand wide at 30-30. Sensing blood, Nadal buried a forehand down-the-line and happily watched the Argentine’s forehand response fly well long.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 5-3* Diego Schwartzman

Nadal waltzes through a quick love hold to move to within a game of a two-set lead. Great serving from him, dismounting with his second ace of the day.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 *4-3 Diego Schwartzman

Somehow, Schwartzman recovers from 0-40 down to hold serve. There was a very clear hangover from Nadal’s escape in the previous game, with a couple of errors from Schwartzman immediately pushing him close to being a double break down. From triple break point, it was Nadal’s turn to produce some underwhelming tennis. He will be particularly unhappy about missing a routine return at 30-40.

At deuce, Schwartzman just did enough with a forehand down the line to elicit a forehand forced error from Nadal. Nadal then missed another simple return.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 4-2* Diego Schwartzman

This seemed like a big chance for Schwartzman, who opened the game by slamming a backhand down-the-line winner, then at 0-15 he picked off Nadal at the net with a forehand passing shot at full stretch which elicited the loudest cheer of the day. At 0-30, Schwartzman just missed a backhand down-the-line wide.

From that point, Nadal sensed the danger and response was incredible. At 15-30, he slipped into the net behind a great forehand down-the-line and finished off the point with a pair of very good overheads. At 30-30, Nadal unleashed on a huge inside out forehand winner. He finished the game at 40-30 with a drop shot winner of a sliding serve out wide.

That was a very ominous game for Schwartzman and the others in the draw, a great indication of his confidence.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 *3-2 Diego Schwartzman

Good work from Schwartzman to keep the gap to only one break, laying down a big crosscourt forehand on game point to hold for 15.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 3-1* Diego Schwartzman

Nadal quickly consolidates the break. Things could have become more complicated at 30-30, but Schwartzman sent a quite routine forehand wide as he tried to take control of the point.

On the first game point, Nadal took Schwartzman by surprise in another long exchange by injecting huge pace into a forehand down-the-line. This is a tough score to come back from.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 *2-1 Diego Schwartzman

Nadal is looking very good now as he breaks early in set two. After some enormous hitting to open the return game, he sealed the break by grinding out a backhand error from Schwartzman, maintaining his depth all the way.

Needless to say, this is a completely different Rafael Nadal to the player in Rome a few weeks ago.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 1-1* Diego Schwartzman

Nadal follows Schwartzman’s love hold with a love hold of his own. Great serving from Nadal, who closed it off with a service winner down the T. Both players have started this set trying to be more aggressive earlier in the point.

Winners – Unforced errors:

• Diego Schwartzman – 6 winners 15 unforced errors
• Rafael Nadal – 16 winners 11 unforced errors

Quite the difference, but it just goes to show how difficult to hit the ball past Nadal on this surface. Schwartzman was aggressive in that set and controlled many of the points, yet Nadal was usually there even if he didn’t win the point.

Second set: Rafael Nadal 6-3 *0-1 Diego Schwartzman

Schwartzman opens the second set with a quick hold. After some huge hitting, he sealed off the love service game with a backhand crosscourt winner.

Nadal holds to take the first set, but it sure wasn’t easy. It seemed like he was en route to a simple hold at 40-30, but on his first set point Nadal netted a routine forehand.

At deuce, Nadal produced one of his most impressive points of the day to produce a second set point. Schwartzman was dictating the rally, moving Nadal from side to side and then he cracked open the court with a really nice forehand angle. Nadal cut off the angle and then crushed a whistling backhand crosscourt winner straight off it, roaring in glee.

On Nadal’s second set point, it was Schwartzman’s turn to counterpunch expertly, soaking up numerous Nadal forehand down-the-line drives before he forced a Nadal backhand error with a deep forehand.

Nadal brilliantly responded at deuce with a surprise drop shot early in the point that Schwartzman simply could not react to. Finally, on the third break point, Schwartzman dumped a backhand into the net.

First set: Rafael Nadal *5-3 Diego Schwartzman

After a period of tough, long holds and multiple break points faced, suddenly we have three quick holds in a row. With an excellent forehand cross-court winner, Schwartzman closes out his service game to 15 for 3-5. He is still there, still putting pressure on Nadal to keep his level up. That is all you can do.

First set: Rafael Nadal 5-2* Diego Schwartzman

Half an hour later, Rafael Nadal finally produces his first hold without having to save a break point. Some great serving from Nadal, who swept to the net behind a serve volley at 30-15 and then he dismounted to 15 with a service winner. Quality hold.

Meanwhile, Swiatek and partner Melichar just lost a first set tiebreak to Guarachi/Krawczyk.

First set: Rafael Nadal *4-2 Diego Schwartzman

Schwartzman gets his first hold of the match and he did very well. After losing so many big points on his serve so far, this time Schwartzman rose to the occasion at 30-30, breaking Nadal’s backhand down with a vicious combination of crosscourt forehands. He then produced an excellent, surprising slice second serve down the T that produced a rare free point on an important point. Good work.

First set: Rafael Nadal 4-1* Diego Schwartzman

Nadal saves a break point to secure an essential hold, consolidating his break. Nadal led 40-15, only for Schwartzman to drag Nadal back to deuce by taking control of two long rallies and finishing down the line. As the deuces piled up, Nadal produced a big ace down the T to save Schwartzman’s one break point. Eventually, Nadal found a serve and forehand combo on game point ot holf.

Nadal has faced break point in each service game so far, but unlike Schwartzman he has survived two of them.

First set: Rafael Nadal *3-1 Diego Schwartzman

Nadal certainly had no problems hitting through the court to break for a second straight time. At 15-15, Nadal crushed point-ending crosscourt backhand winner. Then he unloaded on a forehand down-the-line after a long ad court rally. Finally, Nadal chased down a Schwartzman drop shot and was more than equal to the lob that was followed, finally finishing the point on an overhead. That was Nadal’s best game of the match so far.

First set: Rafael Nadal 2-1* Diego Schwartzman

Schwartzman breaks back. This was turning into a poor start for Schwartzman as he hit his 8th unforced error to fall down 30-15 on Nadal’s serve. But he recovered so well.

He found a gorgeous angled backhand at 30-15 after a 25 stroke rally. Then after an intense exchange from the deuce side at 30-30, Schwartzman unloaded on a crosscourt forehand. He then soaked up a couple of big backhands from Nadal, before the Spaniard dumped a backhand into the net.

At the moment, the Argentine is finding it much easier to hit through these slower conditions than Nadal.

First set: Rafael Nadal *2-0 Diego Schwartzman

Nadal immediately breaks serve after a messy opening service game from Schwartzman. The Argentine led 30-0, then lost four points in a row. At 30-30, he double faulted and then he dumped a routine backhand into the net on the first break point.

First set: Rafael Nadal 1-0* Diego Schwartzman

Just a relaxed 14 minute opening game filled with long, intense rallies to get the blood flowing.

A great effort from Nadal, who saved two break points to hold serve. After recovering from 40-15 to deuce, Schwartzman chased down a couple of big forehands before seamlessly flipping from defence to offence, finishing with a great crosscourt backhand.

On break point, Schwartzman missed a second serve return. Schwartzman later created a second break point to which Nadal responded with an excellent drop shot, eventually finishing the point with a nice volley. Nadal finally closed it off with a big crosscourt backhand.

We may be here for a long time.

Both players are just finishing their warm-up. Nadal will serve first.

Rafael Nadal leads the head-to-head against Diego Schwartzman 9-1 and 4-1 on clay, but even before Schwartzman got his first win over Nadal last month, he has always been an irritant for Nadal. He tends to play well at least for a few sets, as was the case when he took a set off Nadal in their only match at Roland Garros in the 2018 quarter-final.

There are many long rallies to come and Schwartzman will once again be looking to move forward to the baseline when he can, take the ball early off both wings and control the points. The quality backhand cross-court into Nadal’s forehand from the ad court will determine a lot. Let’s see.

A succinct demonstration of Diego Schwartzman’s incredible level against Nadal in Rome two weeks ago.

This is the most recent update on Novak Djokovic’s neck issues.

Hello! Welcome to day 13 of our Roland Garros coverage as men’s semi-final day is finally upon us and we have two very exciting matches on slate. First up, 12 time Roland Garros champion and 2nd seed Rafael Nadal will face 12th seed Diego Schwartzman. Top seed Novak Djokovic will follow with a very interesting match-up with 5th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

For all the quality tennis being played by others, the main topic in the men’s tournament has been about Nadal and Djokovic and whether a meeting in the final is inevitable. Both players reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set but quarter-finals finally produced some friction as 19 year-old Jannik Sinner served for the first set against Nadal before Djokovic entered his quarter-final against the formidable Pablo Carreno Busta with some discomfort in his neck and shoulder. For a set and a bit, he was on the ropes until he elevated his level and recovered to win in four sets.

What is clear is that both semi-final opponents are capable of beating them. After constantly making life difficult for Nadal across their 9 previous meetings, Schwartzman finally achieved his first win against Nadal three weeks ago in Rome with the best performance of his career. He broke Nadal’s serve 5 times in total and was a constant pest from the baseline, taking the ball so early and lasering winners off both sides to win 6-2 7-5. However, Rome was Nadal’s first tournament back after lockdown and although the conditions in Paris are not ideal for him, he now has more matches under his belt, best of 5 sets and the comfort of playing at a tournament where he boasts a 98-2 record. This is all extremely difficult.

Is Stefanos Tsitsipas ready to step up to Novak Djokovic’s level? Although he already reached a slam semi-final at the 2019 Australian Open, this is Tsitsipas’s most impressive two weeks of his career so far. After the horror of failing to convert 6 match points in his US Open fourth round against Borna Coric and arriving late in Paris after competing in the Hamburg final against Andrey Rublev, he lost the first two sets of the tournament against Jaume Munar. Since his first career recovery from two sets down, he has not lost a set and shocked a lot of people by dismantling Rublev in three sets on Wednesday. The resistance he produces against Djokovic today will reveal a lot about him.