We promised you would be treated to a cracker of a day at Roland Garros. And we delivered on it.
But don't thank us. Thank Rafa Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem.
Nadal and Wawrinka will be back on Sunday as they slug it out to be crowned the French Open men's champion. Murray and Thiem will be sat on the sofa.
Before that though, we'll be back tomorrow for the women's final between favourite Simona Halep and unseeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko at 14:00 BST.
See you then!
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
We have some wonderful stats coming out of our ears. So let's share a few.
Nadal is now one more win away from becoming the first man to win a 10th title at one Grand Slam
He is only the third man to reach a 10th final at one Grand Slam
The Spaniard has never lost in the semi-finals at Roland Garros
He has only dropped 29 games on the way to the final - the second fewest in history
Get involved
#bbctennis
Sachin Chandra: Game set match ,easy isn't it ? Yes it was really easy. Masterful stuff from Rafa in this semifinal. Relentless for Rafa.
Alice Stainer: Feel sorry for Thiem, but Rafa's had so many struggles over past few years that seeing him on this form gives one a glowy feeling.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
This is not much consolation to Dominic Thiem, but he did at least make Rafa Nadal stay out on court than any of the Spaniard's previous opponents.
This demolition job creeped over the two-hour mark, the first two-hour shift that the nine-time champion has had to put in.
He'll be claiming overtime...
AFPCopyright: AFP
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
Rafael Nadal after his French Open semi-final win: "I have been playing a great event but Stan has been playing unbelievable.
"I saw him play earlier and he hit the ball super hard. I need to be at my best."
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
Dominic Thiem looks like he has just seen a ghost. The young Austrian is absolutely stunned.
Rafael Nadal laps up the plaudits from the Chatrier crowd, then goes through his post-match routine of untying his shoelaces and then retying them before going back into the middle for his on-court interview.
AFPCopyright: AFP
Game, set and match - Nadal
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
Well that escalated quickly.
Rafa Nadal saves that break point and then cruises through deuce to wrap up the third set in 28 minutes.
The King of Clay is back. He's back in the Roland Garros final for the first time since 2014.
AFPCopyright: AFP
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 5-0 Thiem
That advantage does disappear rather sharpish, Thiem cracking a forehand long for 30-30.
Hold on, don't celebrate yet Rafa fans. Thiem has a break point...
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 5-0 Thiem
There were some people who wondered how Rafa Nadal would fare today against a decent opponent. Think those questions have been answered...
He still has time to show us he is actually human, fluffing an attempted smash and then batting a forehand into the net.
That's 30-0 in Thiem's favour. You can't imagine that advantage lasts long...
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 5-0 Thiem
And that hold to love could be backed up by a break to love. Indeed it is.
Dominic Thiem looks physically and emotionally drained. He has been knocked over by the juggernaut that is Nadal.
The Austrian barely gets a string on the ball as the nine-time champion moves within one game of another Roland Garros final.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 4-0 Thiem*
Dominic Thiem is being taught a hard lesson here. Pace, precision...perfect. Rafael Nadal is ruthlessly exposing Thiem's weaknesses here. A hold to love...
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Nadal goes double break up
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 3-0 Thiem
Thiem counter-pinches with a forehand winner, only to again by pushed back behind the baseline by the nine-time champion.
Again the lob of desperation comes out of the bag, dropping into the tramlines.
Nadal sees a second break point of the set come his way and again he takes it. Thiem tries to take some frustration out on the ball with some rasping forehand - but they keep coming back!
The Rafa Show keeps on producing. A stunner of a forehand winner clinches the double break.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-0 Thiem*
This one could be over by the time you've popped to the chippy and back for your tea.
Dominic Thiem looks deflated as he double faults on the opening point, the Parisian fans doing their best to spur him on.
They want to get their money's worth from this second semi-final.
Nadal beats himself up after making a couple of unforced forehand errors. That is the measure of the man. Never happy to let a game go by.
And he still might not do. He digs out a brilliant backhand which leaves Thiem scrabbling, the Austrian desperately trying a lob which lands nearer Row A than the baseline.
Deuce...
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-0 Thiem*
The Chatrier crowd amuse themselves with a Mexican Wave at the changeover, slightly delaying Rafa as he looks to get moving with his service game.
That might well be Thiem's best chance of prolonging this match.
The Austrian looks devoid of ideas, and devoid of confidence now. He almost apologetically clubs a couple of forehands past the baseline, helping Nadal to hold to love.
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 1-0 Thiem
The end appears to be nigh for Dominic Thiem. He smacks a forehand long on that break point, putting Nadal two sets and a break up.
He's not going to lose this now. Is he?
AFPCopyright: AFP
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 1-0 Thiem
Thiem clenches his teeth, then mutters something we couldn't probably can't repeat after jumping into a backhand that crashes into the net.
30-30. Another unforced error from the Austrian, brings up another break point for Nadal...
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 0-0 Thiem*
Rafa pops off court for a 'comfort break', jogging back with a spring in his step.
Thiem beckons the ball-boy over, he is going to get this third - and potentially final, set under way.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 0-0 Thiem*
Only once has Dominic Thiem ever battled back from two-sets down to win a five-set match.
Is he going to make it a second? He's going to have to if he is going to become only the second Austrian to reach a Grand Slam final.
AFPCopyright: AFP
Game and second set
Nadal 6-3 6-4 Thiem
Nadal doesn't give him a sniff.
That is a lesson in clinical tennis from Rafa to his 23-year-old opponent.
He's a set away from a 10th Roland Garros final.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 5-4 Thiem
Dominic Thiem is at least asking the question of Rafa.
He holds serve to force the Spaniard to serve this second set out.
I think the 23-year-old has to break here or this match is over. The King of Clay not going to lose a semi-final at Roland Garros for the first time from two sets up.
Live Reporting
Jonathan Jurejko and Matthew Henry
All times stated are UK
Get involved
ReutersCopyright: Reuters -
Nadal is now one more win away from becoming the first man to win a 10th title at one Grand Slam
-
He is only the third man to reach a 10th final at one Grand Slam
-
The Spaniard has never lost in the semi-finals at Roland Garros
-
He has only dropped 29 games on the way to the final - the second fewest in history
AFPCopyright: AFP AFPCopyright: AFP AFPCopyright: AFP ReutersCopyright: Reuters AFPCopyright: AFP AFPCopyright: AFP Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Latest PostAu revoir!
We promised you would be treated to a cracker of a day at Roland Garros. And we delivered on it.
But don't thank us. Thank Rafa Nadal, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem.
Nadal and Wawrinka will be back on Sunday as they slug it out to be crowned the French Open men's champion. Murray and Thiem will be sat on the sofa.
Before that though, we'll be back tomorrow for the women's final between favourite Simona Halep and unseeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko at 14:00 BST.
See you then!
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
We have some wonderful stats coming out of our ears. So let's share a few.
Get involved
#bbctennis
Sachin Chandra: Game set match ,easy isn't it ? Yes it was really easy. Masterful stuff from Rafa in this semifinal. Relentless for Rafa.
Alice Stainer: Feel sorry for Thiem, but Rafa's had so many struggles over past few years that seeing him on this form gives one a glowy feeling.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
This is not much consolation to Dominic Thiem, but he did at least make Rafa Nadal stay out on court than any of the Spaniard's previous opponents.
This demolition job creeped over the two-hour mark, the first two-hour shift that the nine-time champion has had to put in.
He'll be claiming overtime...
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
Rafael Nadal after his French Open semi-final win: "I have been playing a great event but Stan has been playing unbelievable.
"I saw him play earlier and he hit the ball super hard. I need to be at my best."
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
Dominic Thiem looks like he has just seen a ghost. The young Austrian is absolutely stunned.
Rafael Nadal laps up the plaudits from the Chatrier crowd, then goes through his post-match routine of untying his shoelaces and then retying them before going back into the middle for his on-court interview.
Game, set and match - Nadal
Nadal 6-3 6-4 6-0 Thiem
Well that escalated quickly.
Rafa Nadal saves that break point and then cruises through deuce to wrap up the third set in 28 minutes.
The King of Clay is back. He's back in the Roland Garros final for the first time since 2014.
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 5-0 Thiem
That advantage does disappear rather sharpish, Thiem cracking a forehand long for 30-30.
Hold on, don't celebrate yet Rafa fans. Thiem has a break point...
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 5-0 Thiem
There were some people who wondered how Rafa Nadal would fare today against a decent opponent. Think those questions have been answered...
He still has time to show us he is actually human, fluffing an attempted smash and then batting a forehand into the net.
That's 30-0 in Thiem's favour. You can't imagine that advantage lasts long...
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 5-0 Thiem
And that hold to love could be backed up by a break to love. Indeed it is.
Dominic Thiem looks physically and emotionally drained. He has been knocked over by the juggernaut that is Nadal.
The Austrian barely gets a string on the ball as the nine-time champion moves within one game of another Roland Garros final.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 4-0 Thiem*
Dominic Thiem is being taught a hard lesson here. Pace, precision...perfect. Rafael Nadal is ruthlessly exposing Thiem's weaknesses here. A hold to love...
Nadal goes double break up
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 3-0 Thiem
Thiem counter-pinches with a forehand winner, only to again by pushed back behind the baseline by the nine-time champion.
Again the lob of desperation comes out of the bag, dropping into the tramlines.
Nadal sees a second break point of the set come his way and again he takes it. Thiem tries to take some frustration out on the ball with some rasping forehand - but they keep coming back!
The Rafa Show keeps on producing. A stunner of a forehand winner clinches the double break.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-0 Thiem*
This one could be over by the time you've popped to the chippy and back for your tea.
Dominic Thiem looks deflated as he double faults on the opening point, the Parisian fans doing their best to spur him on.
They want to get their money's worth from this second semi-final.
Nadal beats himself up after making a couple of unforced forehand errors. That is the measure of the man. Never happy to let a game go by.
And he still might not do. He digs out a brilliant backhand which leaves Thiem scrabbling, the Austrian desperately trying a lob which lands nearer Row A than the baseline.
Deuce...
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 2-0 Thiem*
The Chatrier crowd amuse themselves with a Mexican Wave at the changeover, slightly delaying Rafa as he looks to get moving with his service game.
That might well be Thiem's best chance of prolonging this match.
The Austrian looks devoid of ideas, and devoid of confidence now. He almost apologetically clubs a couple of forehands past the baseline, helping Nadal to hold to love.
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 1-0 Thiem
The end appears to be nigh for Dominic Thiem. He smacks a forehand long on that break point, putting Nadal two sets and a break up.
He's not going to lose this now. Is he?
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 6-4 1-0 Thiem
Thiem clenches his teeth, then mutters something we couldn't probably can't repeat after jumping into a backhand that crashes into the net.
30-30. Another unforced error from the Austrian, brings up another break point for Nadal...
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 0-0 Thiem*
Rafa pops off court for a 'comfort break', jogging back with a spring in his step.
Thiem beckons the ball-boy over, he is going to get this third - and potentially final, set under way.
Post update
Nadal 6-3 6-4 0-0 Thiem*
Only once has Dominic Thiem ever battled back from two-sets down to win a five-set match.
Is he going to make it a second? He's going to have to if he is going to become only the second Austrian to reach a Grand Slam final.
Game and second set
Nadal 6-3 6-4 Thiem
Nadal doesn't give him a sniff.
That is a lesson in clinical tennis from Rafa to his 23-year-old opponent.
He's a set away from a 10th Roland Garros final.
Post update
*Nadal 6-3 5-4 Thiem
Dominic Thiem is at least asking the question of Rafa.
He holds serve to force the Spaniard to serve this second set out.
I think the 23-year-old has to break here or this match is over. The King of Clay not going to lose a semi-final at Roland Garros for the first time from two sets up.