Defending champion Rafael Nadal beat 12th seed Diego Schwartzman in the men's singles semifinals at Roland Garros on Friday (October 9) to storm into the finals at the 2020 French Open.

The second seed Spaniard defeated his Argentine opponent in straight sets 6-3,6-3,7-6 in a semifinal encounter which lasted over three hours at Roland Garros. With the win over the diminutive Schwartzman, Nadal improved to 10-1 in the overall head to head against his opponent.

Nadal, the twelve time French Open champion now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between top seed and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and fifth seed Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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Nadal had beaten Italy's rising teen tennis star Jannik Sinner to book his place in the last four at the French Open, his semifinal opponent Schwartzman had stunned last year's finalist and third seed Austrian Dominic Thiem to make his maiden semifinal appearance at Roland Garros.

French Open 2020: Rafael Nadal Fends Off Italian Jannik Sinner's Challenge To Set Up Semifinal Clash With Deigo Schwartzman

Nadal, who is already a twelve time winner at the French Open is chasing a record extending thirteenth title at Roland Garros. Nadal is the most successful and dominant champion at the French Open by quite the distance.

The counter punching baseliner regarded as the greatest clay courter of his generation has pocketed a record twelve French Open titles, winning the men's singles in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Known as the 'King of Clay' for his stupendous track record and stellar success at the French Open is also closing in on his long time rival and Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer's tally of 20 Grand Slam titles