French Open 2018 schedule: Thursday's order of play as Rafael Nadal resumes play on Day 12
RAFAEL NADAL will resume his quarter-final clash with Diego Schwartzman today after yesterday’s rain delays.
French Open: Nadal scores stunning point against Schwartzman
The No 1-seeded Spaniard dropped a set for the first time at Roland Garros this year with his Argentine rival coming out on top 6-4 to deny Nadal the chance to break Bjorn Borg’s record of 41 consecutive winning sets at the French Open having gotten to 37.
An hour-long rain delay halted play and while he returned to take a commanding lead in the second set, the game was eventually abandoned for the day after further hazardous weather conditions.
Nadal - bidding for an 11th French Open title - has only ever lost twice in Paris, to Robin Soderling in 2009 and Novak Djokovic in 2015, winning an astonishing 85 matches having dominated the event over the course of his career.
Schwartzman, ranked No 11, faced Nadal in Madrid earlier this year, losing in straight sets, but will hope to rediscover the first set form of his which gave 31-year-old Nadal a huge scare early on.
On Court Suzanne-Lenglen another quarter-final will resume play with Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro on level footing in a tie-break at the close of the first set.
The winners of each last-eight tie will go head-to-head in the semis with Dominic Thiem facing Djokovic’s conqueror and surprise of the tournament Marco Cecchinato in the other showdown.
After Nadal, the women’s semi-finals take place on Centre Court with an all-American battle between Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens following a finely-poised clash between top seed Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza.
Following the close of Cilic and Del Potro’s contest on the French Open’s second court, the mixed doubles final and then the men’s doubles semi-final will take place.
Court Philippe-Chatrier
Play starts at 11am
Rafael NADAL (ESP) [1] vs Diego SCHWARTZMAN (ARG) [11]
To be completed: Schwartman leads 6-4 3-5
Not before 2pm
Simona HALEP (ROU) [1] vs Garbine MUGURUZA (ESP) [3]
Madison KEYS (USA) [13] vs Sloane STEPHENS (USA) [10]
Court Suzanne-Lenglen
Play starts at 11am
Marin CILIC (CRO) [3] vs Juan Martin DEL POTRO (ARG) [5]
To be completed: Match tied 6-6 (5-5)
Gabriela Dabrowski (CAN) & Mate Pavic (CRO) [1] vs Latisha Chan (TPE) & Ivan Dodig (CRO) [2]
Nikola Mektic (CRO) & Alexander Peya (AUT) [8] vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) & Nicolas Mahut (FRA) [6]