PARIS — King of clay Rafael Nadal hammered Stan Wawrinka, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, to earn an unprecedented 10th title at the French Open on Sunday.
The 31-year-old needed barely two hours to run his career total to 15 Grand Slam singles titles — three fewer than rival Roger Federer.
Nadal is the first man in the Open era to win a Grand Slam 10 times.
The Spaniard notched his memorable success on a second match point when three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka sent a backhand into the net.
The Swiss had never lost a final at a major, while Nadal has not lost in 10 Roland Garros finals.
“This win is incredible,” Nadal said. “To win a 10th time here is very special for me. I’m very emotional — and in this moment it’s even worse. I try to play my best at all events. But it a special feeling that I have in Paris, it’s impossible to describe. It is difficult to compare this tournament to any other. This is the most important event of my career.”
Nadal was never threatened by his opponent, with Wawrinka possibly feeling the effects of the four and a half hours he needed to beat Andy Murray in the semifinals 48 hours earlier.