Updates: Nadal Leads Federer In Roland Garros Semi-final

Rafael Nadal, the 11-time Roland Garros champion, leads 2009 titlist Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4 in their semi-final on Friday, played in tough conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Nadal, who has a 13-2 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Federer in their clay-court matches, is 91-2 at the Grand Slam championship in Paris. The victor will play World No. 1 and 2016 winner Novak Djokovic or last year’s runner-up Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final.

In less than perfect conditions, with light rain and gusts of wind recorded at more than 39 miles per hour, Nadal saved one break point in the first game and grew in confidence. Federer struggled, unsure of his groundstroke timing, and struck a backhand into the net on Nadal’s third break point in the second game. Nadal came within a point of leading 4-1, but Federer held on and sealed his first service break with Nadal over-hit a backhand.

Nadal’s depth of groundstroke continued to pressurise Federer, who saved four break points in a 20-point sixth game. But on Nadal’s fifth opportunity, he forced Federer to play one extra stroke and took a 4-2 led with a forehand error from the Swiss. Nadal went on to close out the opener with a terrific backhand crosscourt winner – his eighth of the 51-minute first set.

Federer committed 17 unforced errors, the majority coming in the first three games, before he settled. With clay dust blowing around the main show court, both players needed to take their time before delivering serves. At the President’s Box end, through to the end of the first set, the average game time was two minutes, 19 seconds and five minutes, 49 seconds at the other end of the court.

Federer took a 2-0 lead at the start of the second set when Nadal struck a backhand down the line long at 30/40. Minutes later, Nadal bounced back. Defending deep behind the baseline, Nadal converted his third break point chance with a forehand winner off a Federer smash.

Federer, serving first in the set, applied the pressure, hitting deep and approaching the net at the right times, but Nadal was locked in on his groundstroke length and found gaps in the court. At 4-4, Federer led 40/0 but Nadal recovered with relentless consistency and won his fifth straight point to break with a forehand volley. Nadal then closed out the second set, which lasted 50 minutes, with a hold to love.