Trying to beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open is, without a doubt, the toughest task in tennis. Indeed, must be among the greatest challenges in all of sports.
The pressure he applies, from set to set, game to game, point to point, shot to shot. That bullwhip of a high-bouncing, topspin lefty forehand. Those quick-reflex returns that help him break an opponent's serve -- and his will.
Doing what he does so well on the red clay of Roland Garros, a surface and site he dominates so completely, the No. 1-seeded Nadal wore down No. 2 Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 Sunday to win his ninth French Open championship and fifth in a row, both records.
"For me," Nadal said, "playing here in Roland Garros is just unforgettable, forever."
It is also his 14th Grand Slam title overall, tying the 28-year-old Spaniard with Pete Sampras for the second most by a man, behind only Roger Federer's 17.
Djokovic had won their four most recent matches, including on clay in the best-of-three-set final at Rome last month, but beating Nadal in the best-of-five format at the French Open is a whole other matter.
Nadal also beat Djokovic in the 2012 final, and the 2013 semifinals. In all, Nadal leads Djokovic 6-0 at the French Open, 9-3 at major tournaments, and 23-19 in total. No other pair of men has played each other as often.
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| Rafael Nadal won his 35th straight French Open match Sunday in claiming his ninth career title at the clay-court Grand Slam. |
Doing what he does so well on the red clay of Roland Garros, a surface and site he dominates so completely, the No. 1-seeded Nadal wore down No. 2 Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 Sunday to win his ninth French Open championship and fifth in a row, both records.
"For me," Nadal said, "playing here in Roland Garros is just unforgettable, forever."
It is also his 14th Grand Slam title overall, tying the 28-year-old Spaniard with Pete Sampras for the second most by a man, behind only Roger Federer's 17.
Djokovic had won their four most recent matches, including on clay in the best-of-three-set final at Rome last month, but beating Nadal in the best-of-five format at the French Open is a whole other matter.
Nadal also beat Djokovic in the 2012 final, and the 2013 semifinals. In all, Nadal leads Djokovic 6-0 at the French Open, 9-3 at major tournaments, and 23-19 in total. No other pair of men has played each other as often.
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