{"id":1311203,"date":"2019-06-09T23:24:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T05:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/rafael-nadal-wins-12th-french-open-championship\/"},"modified":"2019-06-09T23:24:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-10T05:24:00","slug":"rafael-nadal-wins-12th-french-open-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/rafael-nadal-wins-12th-french-open-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Nadal wins 12th French Open championship"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.9291277258567\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-980592-391\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match against Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144.jpg\" alt=\"Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Jean-Francois Badias)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match against Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Jean-Francois Badias)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-1.jpg\" alt=\"Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Jean-Francois Badias)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Spain's Rafael Nadal lifts the trophy as he celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"18\">\n<p><strong>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal lifts the trophy as he celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match against Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-2.jpg\" alt=\"Spain's Rafael Nadal lifts the trophy as he celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Spain's Rafael Nadal, right, hugs Austria's Dominic Thiem, left, after celebrating his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"21\">\n<p><strong>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal, right, hugs Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem, left, after celebrating his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-3.jpg\" alt=\"Spain's Rafael Nadal, right, hugs Austria's Dominic Thiem, left, after celebrating his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Austria's Dominic Thiem plays a shot against Spain's Rafael Nadal during the men's final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem plays a shot against Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal during the men&#8217;s final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-4.jpg\" alt=\"Austria's Dominic Thiem plays a shot against Spain's Rafael Nadal during the men's final match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match against Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-5.jpg\" alt=\"Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Australia's Ashleigh Barty celebrates winning her women's final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in two sets 6-1, 6-3, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Saturday, June 8, 2019. (AP Photo\/Christophe Ena)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Australia&#8217;s Ashleigh Barty celebrates winning her women&#8217;s final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in two sets 6-1, 6-3, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Saturday, June 8, 2019. (AP Photo\/Christophe Ena)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-6.jpg\" alt=\"Australia's Ashleigh Barty celebrates winning her women's final match of the French Open tennis tournament against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in two sets 6-1, 6-3, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Saturday, June 8, 2019. (AP Photo\/Christophe Ena)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"3\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"17\">\n<p><strong>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match against Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-7.jpg\" alt=\"Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Spain's Rafael Nadal, right, holds the trophy as he celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem, left, in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"5.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"22\">\n<p><strong>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal, right, holds the trophy as he celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match against Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem, left, in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/APTOPIX_France_Tennis_French_Open_80618-b8144-8.jpg\" alt=\"Spain's Rafael Nadal, right, holds the trophy as he celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men's final match against Austria's Dominic Thiem, left, in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/rafael-nadal-wins-12th-french-open-championship\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/rafael-nadal-wins-12th-french-open-championship\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">PARIS \u2014 For a few, fleeting moments Sunday, Rafael Nadal found his French Open supremacy seemingly threatened by Dominic Thiem, a younger, talented opponent challenging him in the final for the second consecutive year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A poor game from Nadal allowed Thiem to break him and even things at a set apiece. That development brought fans to their feet in Court Philippe Chatrier, roaring and clapping and, above all, wondering: Was this, now, a real contest? Could Thiem push Nadal more? Could Thiem make this surge last? Would Nadal falter?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That the questions arose at all was significant. The answers arrived swiftly. Nadal reasserted himself, as he usually does at Roland Garros, by grabbing 16 of the next 17 points and 12 of the remaining 14 games, pulling away to beat Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 for his record-extending 12th championship at the French Open.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe stepped on me,\u201d Thiem said. \u201cThe numbers are crazy. He won it 12 times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">No one in tennis ever has won any major tournament that frequently. Then again, no one ever has been as suited for success on any of the sport\u2019s surfaces as this 33-year-old Spaniard is on red clay: Nadal is 93-2 for his career at Roland Garros, winning four in a row from 2005-08, five in a row from 2010-14, and now three in a row.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI can\u2019t explain my emotions,\u201d said the No. 2-seeded Nadal, who dropped to his back after the final point, getting that rust-colored dirt all over his neon yellow shirt, then wiped away tears during the trophy ceremony.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Looking at the bigger picture, he is now up to 18 Grand Slam trophies, moving within two of Roger Federer\u2019s men\u2019s record of 20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nadal, however, did not want to entertain any discussion of a pursuit of Federer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI am not very worried about this stuff,\u201d Nadal said. \u201cYou can\u2019t be frustrated all the time because the neighbor has a bigger house than you or a bigger TV or better garden.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Thiem, a 25-year-old Austrian who was seeded No. 4 and upset No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a draining, rain-interrupted semifinal played over two days, was eyeing his first major title in this rematch of the 2018 final in Paris. But again, he couldn\u2019t solve Nadal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cFirst thing that I want to say is congrats to Dominic. I feel sorry, because he deserves it here, too,\u201d Nadal said. \u201cHe has an unbelievable intensity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">So, of course, does Nadal. This had been, by his lofty standards, a rough season, from the most lopsided Grand Slam final loss of his career \u2014 against Djokovic at the Australian Open \u2014 to entering May without a title for the first year since 2004. Injuries, as often is the case with Nadal, were a problem, including a bad right knee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMentally, I lost a little bit (of) energy, because I had too many issues in a row,\u201d Nadal said, tapping his right fingers on his temple.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWhen you are constantly hit in the face,\u201d he said in Spanish, \u201cyou end up being hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He started to right himself by taking the Italian Open title on clay last month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt was very important for him to win in Rome. It was like he realized that he was getting back on the good level, on the right path,\u201d said Nadal\u2019s coach, 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya, \u201cand gaining a lot of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Soon enough, Nadal found himself in a familiar position in Paris: playing in the final, and winning it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">This one began on a cloudy afternoon, with the temperature in the low 60s (mid-teens Celsius) and only a slight breeze. In the initial game \u2014 interrupted briefly by a baby wailing in the stands, drawing a laugh from other spectators and prompting Nadal to back away from the baseline between serves \u2014 three of the five points lasted at least 11 strokes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And, thereby, a pattern was established: By the end of the 3-hour, 1-minute match, a total of 46 points went 10 strokes or more. Each man claimed half.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">From the get-go, it was such a physical grind that Nadal was soaked with sweat and changed neon yellow shirts after just seven games, eliciting catcalls from the stands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Early on, there were no signs of fatigue for Thiem, even though he was competing for a fourth straight day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Indeed, it was Thiem who nosed ahead first, closing a 12-stroke exchange by ripping a forehand to earn the first break point, then converting it with an overhead on a 20-stroke exchange for a 3-2 edge. He turned with a clenched right hand to face his guest box, where his girlfriend, women\u2019s doubles champion Kristina Mladenovic, was pumping her fist and shouting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nadal immediately responded. He grabbed the next four games with elan, using a drop shot to help break for a 5-3 lead, then a serve-and-volley to help hold for the set.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That must have been demoralizing for Thiem. But at the ensuing changeover, he didn\u2019t whack a ball toward the stands, as Federer memorably did during his semifinal loss to Nadal. Thiem casually sat in his gray sideline seat, bounced his legs and chewed on an energy bar, furtively glancing at Nadal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Thiem bounced back, if only briefly. Talk about a stunning shift: Nadal won 25 of 26 points on his serve before \u2014 with spectators trading between-point chants of nicknames, \u201cRa-fa!\u201d and \u201cDo-mi!\u201d \u2014 he got broken to cede the second set. That was the only set Thiem managed to steal from Nadal in four career meetings at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Maybe this was going to be a long one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But Thiem, put simply, wilted. Enough to create an opening Nadal barged through.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">By now, Nadal was creating magic at the net, and he won the point on 23 of 27 times he went forward. One drop volley was spun so marvelously that it landed on Thiem\u2019s side, then bounced back toward the net. All Thiem could do was watch \u2014 and offer an appreciative thumbs-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAlmost everybody will tell you that he\u2019s one of the best volleyers of our game,\u201d Thiem said. \u201cBecause the last time he missed a volley was, maybe, seven years ago, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Soon enough, it was over. The King of Clay, as Nadal is known, still reigns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">More AP tennis coverage: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/apf-Tennis\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/www.apnews.com\/apf-Tennis<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP%E2%80%94Sports\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/rafael-nadal-wins-12th-french-open-championship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis tournament title after winning his men&#8217;s final match against Austria&#8217;s Dominic Thiem in four sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2019. (AP Photo\/Michel Euler)AP | AP Spain&#8217;s Rafael Nadal celebrates his record 12th French Open tennis [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1311203","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-18 21:56:21","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1311203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311203\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1311203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1311203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1311203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}