Tennis
HomeScores
Featured Video
5 Insane Nadal Facts 🤯
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland plays a forehand shot during his semi-final match with Andy Murray of Great Britain, on day thirteen at Roland Garros on June 9, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland plays a forehand shot during his semi-final match with Andy Murray of Great Britain, on day thirteen at Roland Garros on June 9, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

French Open 2017 Schedule: Men's Final TV Coverage and Live-Stream Guide

James DudkoJun 10, 2017

Rafael Nadal's bid for a historic 10th French Open title will be realised if the Spaniard overcomes an impressive Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Wawrinka, who won this tournament in 2015, reached the final after outlasting World No. 1 Andy Murray in the last four. The win over a marathon five sets rates as just one more imperious display from 32-year-old Wawrinka, a player who has been in peak form on the Paris clay this year.

The same is true of Nadal, who has yet to drop a set at this year's Open. Few players can live with the decorated 31-year-old on clay.

TOP NEWS

Colts Jaguars Football
With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Celtics' fourth-quarter comeback falls short in Game 7 loss to 76ers

Before a preview, here are the schedule and viewing details:

Date: Sunday, June 11

Time: 2 p.m. BST, 9 a.m. ET

TV Info: Eurosport 1, ITV 4, NBC

Preview

It's hard to argue against Nadal being considered the class of the men's bracket at this year's tournament. In fact, there are shades of the dominance common earlier in his career, according to coach Carlos Moya, per BBC Sport's Piers Newbery:

"[His game] is starting to be the way it was. That was one of the things that we wanted back, that the opponent feels he's playing Nadal again and if they want to beat him, they're going to have to work really hard."

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 09: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand shot during his semi-final match with Dominic Thiem of Austria, on day thirteen at Roland Garros on June 9, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

As Newbery noted, speed has been the key to Nadal's progress to this year's final: "The Spaniard, 31, has been getting them out of there in close to 90 minutes per match, reaching the semi-finals for the loss of just 22 games in five matches—the fewest games lost to this stage of a Grand Slam since best-of-five matches were introduced."

Whether Nadal can swiftly overwhelm a player with the savvy all-round game Wawrinka boasts is another matter. Few players steamroll Wawrinka, who has won every way possible in Paris this year.

Against Murray, the Swiss player was in full-on attack mode, per ESPN's Brad Gilbert:

However, Wawrinka also showed the strong defensive side of his game, particularly late on. Specifically, he routinely destroyed the Murray serve in the fifth and deciding set, per Ben Rothenberg of the New York Times:

Wawrinka was relentless in the last four, but he will struggle to swarm on Nadal in the same way. Yet something has to give between two players who love to seize, and then never relinquish, the initiative.

In many ways, Wawrinka may be wiser to play a more cagey game early on. He should try to extend the sets and put Nadal in a long match, the type of test of attrition he hasn't faced so far this year.

Nadal's ominous form, as well as his historic fondness for Roland Garros, suggests he should have the edge on the day. However, Wawrinka has also found his own comfort level in Paris and is playing well enough to beat anybody. 

5 Insane Nadal Facts 🤯

TOP NEWS

Colts Jaguars Football
With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Celtics' fourth-quarter comeback falls short in Game 7 loss to 76ers
DENVER NUGGETS VS GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, NBA
Fox's "Special Forces" Red Carpet

TRENDING ON B/R