PARIS, June 9, 2017

Rafael Nadal continues his attempt to clinch his 10th singles title at Roland Garros. The 31-year-old Spaniard beat Dominic Thiem on Friday 6-3, 6-4, 6-0. Nadal hit 23 winners and broke serve six times to advance in two hours and seven minutes.

Nadal, who has lost just 29 games on the road to the final, said: “I played a very good event, all the matches playing well. Today was not an exception. Starting a little bit more nervous today, but then I played well. It’s true that Dominic played with more mistakes than usual, probably. At the same time it was windy out there, and he didn’t play on center court before that match. Probably that was not helping him. In general, to be in the final again here probably the most important event in my career. It means a lot to me. I am just very, very happy for everything, and I gonna try my best on Sunday.”

On Sunday, Nadal will meet another former French Open champion in third seed and 2015 titlist Stan Wawrinka, who fought past top seed Andy Murray 6-7, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-1 in four hours and 34 minutes to become the oldest Roland Garros finalist in 44 years at the age of 32.

“For sure it wasn’t easy to be two sets to one down. When you play a player like Andy Murray, you can dominate the rallies, but he’s still going to be there. He’s still going to do incredible defense, playing the right tennis in the right moment. That’s why he’s No. 1 in the world. So when you enter in a Grand Slam against him, you have to accept that. I was trying to focus on my game. I’m really happy to find a way how to win the match,” Wawrinka told.

“Right now I’m really happy to be in the final. I think was quite a tough match today. A big battle. I want to enjoy a lot, because, it’s not all the time you can say you’re gonna play a final of a Grand Slam, especially in Paris. I really want to enjoy that. Rest, recovery and getting ready for a big final.”

Wawrinka and Nadal will meet for the 19th time with the Spaniard leading 15-3 in head-to-head records.