RELENTLESS RAFAEL NADAL is a record-breaking perfect 10.
A day after a thrilling ladies’ final, Nadal demolished Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-3 6-1 in a no-contest showdown to become the first player to win more than nine singles titles at one Grand Slam since tennis went professional.
The Spaniard’s statistics at Roland Garros now read: 10 finals, 10 wins, played 81 matches, won 79. King of Clay? He’s the absolute don, chief and Lord Buckethead of the red stuff.
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The Spanish hero was a blue of skill and speed
La Decima was sealed in just two hours and five minutes of domination.
Wawrinka, who had fought past Andy Murray in the semi final, had no answer to the barrage of bruising groundstrokes which drove him back and back and back, well out of sight of any hope of claiming his second French Open crown.
Nadal’s victory also edged him clear into second place in the all-time standings for Slam titles for men. His 15 victories – at 31, he’s the oldest player, man or woman, in tennis history to reach that tally – puts him back just three behind leader Roger Federer again.
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Jelena Ostapenko’s victory the day before had prompted talk of a new era in the women’s game.
But for the men, it’s back to the future as Federer and Nadal rewind the clock.
Federer beat Nadal to win the Australian Open at the age of 35, now the Spaniard has regained his Paris throne. The last time the two men held these titles was in 2010.
And given Nadal’s superb form, which will take him back to No 2 in tomorrow’s new world rankings, you would not put it past him to repeat his Wimbledon triumph of seven years ago, too.
With Federer going for a record-breaking eighth title, it will be the most intriguing fortnight in SW19 for some years.
In defeat, Wawrinka lost his perfect record in Slam finals. He had been three from three but he was never in this one.
The Swiss had blasted 87 winners past Murray in their five-set semi final.
But he managed just four in the opening set, although the more telling statistic was the 16 unforced errors which gave it to Nadal on the plate.
The Swiss had saved four break point in the fourth game but capitulated in the sixth and again in the eighth, sending another forehand long to end the first act after just over 40 minutes.
Amazingly, Nadal then managed to up his game.
Undisturbed by being warned for a time violation at a key moment in the opening game of the second set, the Spaniard ran Wawrinka ragged in the next.
Booming groundstroke after booming groundstroke drove Wawrinka back well behind the baseline, as Nadal combined power, bounce and angle to perfection.
An emotional Nadal said: "It is unbelievable to win the tenth is incredible, very special. I want to thank everyone here today.
"I am very emotional my French is very bad and in this moment it is even worse because I am very emotional.
"I try my best in all events but the feeling I have here is impossible to describe.
"The nerves and adrenaline that I feel here is impossible to compare to anything else.
"It’s the most important event in my career without a doubt."
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