Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday to win the French Open for a record 10th time.
It was Nadal's fifteenth major Grand Slam crown.
"It's true that 10 is a handsome number, but actually my favourite is nine", said Nadal, the nine-time champion at Roland Garros who faces 2015 victor Stan Wawrinka in the final. Nadal. Nadal established himself as a star-in-the-making, beating Roger Federer in four sets in the semifinals in the first Grand Slam meeting of their great rivalry, before getting past Puerta for the title. On clay, against Nadal, whose 10 French Open titles may only ever be beaten if he wins again next year, the indecision was deadly.
He fought all the way through the third set, picking up a double break when he didn't necessarily need to in what was ultimately the final game of the match - but it characterised what Nadal did - fought for every point, as he has done throughout his career and made Wawrinka work for everything.
Wawrinka had to come through five sets against world number one Andy Murray in the semi-finals and his body language quickly displayed his frustration as Nadal masterfully whipped balls into hard areas with punishing pace and accuracy - a spinning cross-court forehand putting him 3-0 up in the second set. Nadal said when he first won the title in 2005 he would not have imagined he would still be playing in 2017, let alone winning, and said 10 titles had a special ring to it.
Its hard to compare with other tournaments but the nerves and adrenaline I feel, its like no other place..
"For me this event is the most important one of the year and I have more pressure on me, but it is not just about the four grand slams", he said.
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Nadal dominated the contest from start to finish against Wawrinka, who was simply helpless to get into the match, with all the key points going the way of the Spaniard. "You were too good".
10 - Nadal's titles in Paris have come from 10 finals - he has never lost at Roland Garros once he has reached the semi-finals.
It was a procession to La Decima for the King of Clay, as he saw out the second set and claimed three breaks in the third. After holding his serve in the first game, Nadal broke Wawrinka's serve to love in the next.
Wawrinka began to strike some winners off his backhand, but could not find the necessary breakthrough while leading 15-30 at 1-3.
Spanish NBA veteran Pau Gasol believes Rafael Nadal's unprecedented 10 Roland Garros title wins is on par with some of the greatest achievements in all of sport. And then there was this: Federer finished with 35 unforced errors, Nadal only seven. He demolished 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.
"If he continues at this level - it's not easy of course winning Grand Slams, but today he won, and he has options at Wimbledon".
The world No. 3 in men's singles had one of the more hard paths at Roland Garros.
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