Nadal grabs record-breaking 10th French Open title

Spain's Rafael Nadal routs Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to become the first man in history to win the French Open for 10 times.

Today's triumph also earned Rafael Nadal a 15th Grand Slam crown.
TRT World and Agencies

Today's triumph also earned Rafael Nadal a 15th Grand Slam crown.

Spain's Rafael Nadal clinched a record 10th French Open title on Sunday, crushing Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka in a brutally one-sided final.

Nadal, 31, triumphed 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to become the first man in history to win the same major 10 times.

Today's win also earned the Spaniard a 15th Grand Slam crown.

His collection of Slams now stands just three behind great rival Roger Federer.

TRT World and Agencies

It was the 22nd Slam finale for Nadal; just the fourth for Wawrinka, the oldest man in the championship match in 44 years.

Playing in his 22nd Grand Slam final, Nadal triumphed in Paris without dropping a set for a third time.

He also lost just 35 games in total and only six in the final, his most comprehensive victory since allowing Roger Federer four games in the 2008 final.

It was the 22nd Slam finale for Nadal; just the fourth for Wawrinka, the oldest man in the championship match in 44 years.

Sunday was also the first time since 1969 that the Roland Garros final had featured two men over 30.

Reuters

Wawrinka tried to become the oldest French Open winner since Andres Gimeno in 1972. Source: Reuters

Despite having spent more than five hours on court getting to the final, 2015 champion Wawrinka had the first break point in the third game.
The 32-year-old couldn't take it and it proved to be the only break point he earned all afternoon.

From there, it was all downhill for Wawrinka.

Having beaten world number one Andy Murray with a majestic display of power in the semi-final, third seed Wawrinka arrived full of confidence.

Wawrinka tried to become the oldest French Open winner since Andres Gimeno in 1972.

But the barrel-chested 'Stanimal' was powerless as Nadal turned the final into an exhibition of his clayclourt supremacy -- taking his French Open record to an eye-watering 79-2.

As a weary Wawrinka sliced a volley into the net on match point Nadal collapsed on his back on the baseline.

"I'm a little emotional," Nadal said before getting to clamp his jaws on La Coupe des Mousquetaires.

"The nerves and adrenaline I feel on this court is impossible to compare."

Nadal pays tribute to uncle Toni

"Thanks to my uncle, he's been with me since I was three years old, we've been working a lot and without him I would not have these 10 trophies with me," Nadal said at courtside after being handed the Musketeers Cup by two-time Roland Garros champion Roy Emerson.

Reuters

Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy and his Uncle Toni. Source: Reuters

Toni Nadal is planning to step down as his nephew's head coach at the end of the season.

Nadal hailed the French Open as the most special tournament for him.

"I try my best in all events but the feeling I have here is impossible to describe," the champion said on Court Philippe Chatrier.

"For me the nerves, the adrenaline I feel when I play on this court is impossible to compare to any other feeling.

"Feeling your support is just unbelievable," he told the crowd. "Thank you and see you next time."

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