Magical Nadal makes more Roland Garros history

Rafael Nadal had waited three long years to return to the winners’ podium at Roland Garros – and it was as if he couldn’t wait a minute longer.

Crushing 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka 62 63 61 with a flawless display of controlled aggression in a final spanning just over two hours, Nadal continued a career-best run at the clay court major, where he is now a 10-time champion.

The history-making achievement is not only one of the greatest-ever feats in tennis, but arguably in that of sport overall,  ‘La Decima’ accompanied by a string of significant milestones:

• With 15 titles, Nadal moves to second on the Grand Slam leaders’ list, trailing only Roger Federer’s 18.
• He is the first man in the game’s long history to win 10 titles at a single Grand Slam.
• He is just second in the all-time list of champions to triumph at a single major, second only to Margaret Court with her 11 Australian Open titles that spanned the amateur and professional eras.
• Nadal claimed his 73rd career title overall and with it, he returns to the world No.2 ranking.
• Commencing with his win on debut in 2005, Nadal’s Roland Garros win-loss record now extends to 79-2.

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“It’s truly amazing,” said Nadal, who now has four titles from an unmatched seven finals this season.

“This final to win La Decima for me is very, very special. It’s very emotional for me.

“The feeling I have here is impossible to describe. The nerves, the adrenaline that I feel when I play in this court is impossible to compare. It’s the most important tournament in my career and to win again is something I can’t describe.”

Progressing to the title without the loss of a set for the third time in his career – following the same achievements at 2008 and 2010 – Nadal recorded his most impressive display yet at Roland Garros.

The 35 games he dropped overall were a personal best and just three more than the 32 that Bjorn Borg surrendered in the most dominant march to the clay court major in 1978.

That competitive spirit was best on display in the final, where Nadal thundered 27 winners – most from his blistering forehand – to 19 from his opponent.

Wawrinka would later lament his own lack of aggression but not before sportingly joining in the accolades for one of the game’s most popular champions.

“There is nothing to say about today, you were too good,” said the Swiss. “What you are doing in tennis is unbelievable. It’s always been an honour to play against you, two Grand Slam finals now, congratulations to you for your career and your team.”

Having registered just two losses at his most successful Slam – to Robin Soderling in 2009 and Novak Djokovic in 2015 – the Spaniard also erases the memories of a devastating 2016 run, when a serious wrist injury forced his withdrawal before the third round against Marcel Granollers.

The turnaround couldn’t be more dramatic for Nadal, who at world No.2 and with few rankings points to defend in the months ahead, can now target year-end world No.1 honours as a realistic possibility.

First though, there’s this history-making feat to relish.

“[It’s] been magical, all the things that have happened in this tournament for me. I’m so very happy for everything,” Nadal said. “Today was a very important day for me. There have been some tough moments… injuries, so it’s great to have big success like this again.”

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