His clay-court prowess as unassailable as ever, Rafael Nadal won his record 10th French Open title by dominating 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in the final Sunday.
No other man or woman has won 10 championships at the same major in the Open era, which began in 1968.
Along with improving to 10-0 in finals at Roland Garros, Nadal increased his career haul to 15 Grand Slam trophies, breaking a tie with Pete Sampras for second place in the history of men’s tennis, behind only rival Roger Federer’s 18.
It marked a stirring return to the top for Nadal in his favorite event and on his favorite surface. Over his career, he is now 79-2 at the French Open and 102-2 in all best-of-five-set matches on clay.
(Text by AP)
Nadal was only 19 when he won the 2005 French Open at Roland Garros against Argentinian Mariano Puerta 6-7(6) 6-3 6-1 7-5. He played the semi-finals on his birthday (just like this year) and the then top-seed Federer in four sets. It was his first career Grand Slam meeting against the Swiss.
Nadal defeated Federer in the 2006 French Open final. Nadal won 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6, becoming the first player to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam tournament final.
While 2007 is better known for Nadal’s record 81-match winning streak on clay, he picked his third consecutive French Open cup defeating Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and good friend Carlos Moya in the quarters. Moya is now part of Nadal’s coaching team.
Nadal won the 2008 French Open defeating Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. This was Nadal's fourth consecutive French title, tying Bjorn Borg’s all-time record. He would then go on to win Wimbledon, Olympic gold and reach the coveted No.1 ranking.
One year after Sweden’s Robin Soderling lands Nadal his first defeat at the French Open, the Spaniard avenges that defeat by him at the 2010 beating Soderling 6–4, 6–2, 6–4.
Nadal won his sixth French Open title defeating Federer 7–5, 7–6, 5–7, 6–1
Nadal became the first player to win seven French Open titles, surpassing Bjorn Borg’s record of six. He defeated the then World No.1 Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
Nadal won the trophy in 2013 after winning against compatriot David Ferrer in three sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, in the finals.
In 2014, Nadal defeated Djokovic in the French Open finals to win his 9th French Open title and a 5th straight win at Roland Garros. He equaled Pete Sampras' total of 14 Grand Slam wins.
It took Rafa three years to get there, but he finally did. He beat Stan Wawrinka in straight sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to win his 10th French Open title. No other man or woman has won 10 championships at the same major in the Open era, which began in 1968.
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