Rafael Nadal won the French Open on Monday after Novak Djokovic double-faulted on match point one day after their match was halted by rain, according to the tournament's website.
Nadal's win in Paris marks his record-breaking seventh French Open title on the clay court. The final score was 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
[tweet https://twitter.com/RafaelNadal/status/212155606407192576%5D
Rain twice interrupted the final at Roland Garros stadium before play was suspended with the Spaniard, Nadal, leading 6-4 6-3 2-6 1-2.
However the match is delicately poised given Djokovic won eight games in a row before the halt to give himself a fighting chance of becoming the first man since 1969 to hold all four majors at the same time, and only the third ever.
That run of winning games also included a break of serve in the fourth set, which will give the world No. 1 hope that he is in the ascendancy.
Aiming for a record seventh crown at Roland Garros, second-ranked Nadal made a blistering start as he broke Djokovic twice in the opening three games.
The two best players in the world traded strokes of such power at times it was like watching a couple of heavyweight boxers, and more ferocity from Nadal allowed the Mallorcan to break Djokovic for a third time.
Nadal is so much fun to watch on clay. He slides with the the timing of Fleetwood Mac's drummer: perfect.
Fleetwood Mac's drummer...you mean Mick Fleetwood? I guess that means Ringo could beat Nadal on clay also. Lol!
Congrats to Rafa!!!! The King of Clay!!!!! Long live the King!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Novak's game is much better than Rafa, Rafa is purely physical and just brings the ball to the court from anywhere, opponent gets frustrated and makes a mistake making Rafa the winner.
the game IS physical. the better player today won today. friends of yours? first name basis?
Guess what..this is real tennix...not a video game. Physical aspect fo the game is as critical as the technical ability. Interesting to see how you trivialize "..just brings the ball from back anywhere". Get away from that game console and see how it feels like.
Have you been drinking lately Spriya?
Your comment illustrates how little you know about tennis....THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA.....play physical and frustrate your opponent....sheesh!
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He was lucky the match was halted by rain yesterday.
Djokovic was lucky that they allowed the match to continue as long as they did on Sunday in the rain.
pete and spriya...sore losers much? Rafa Nadal is and always has been the world's best tennis player EVER and Djokovic better start kissing his "number one" spot buh-bye because Rafa is on a mission to take it back and before you know it, he WILL.AUPA RAFA!!!!!!Fantastic game!!
I'm a middle aged man now but when I was 12, I was state champion. I was losing in a match to an 11 year old. I lost the 1st set 6-2, down 3-0 2nd set when rain halted play. I was sure to lose. Came back the next morning and I ran through the 11 year old. 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. On an infinitesimal scale, I know how Nadal feels and imagine how Djokovic feels. Great for Nadal and sorry for Djokovic; if not for the rain Djokovic would be holding his 4th grand slam.
6th total, 4th in a row. Next year is a new year, I am sure he will hold it one day...
Congrats Rafa and great effort by Novak after being down two sets!
Rafa has made men's tennis exciting again. Congrats Rafa!
No, you're just obsessed with that term. I wonder why.
Sorry, people. I just honestly wish that someone would make a state mint about the other members of Fleetwood Mac. I mean, my goodness, this is, afterall, an article about that compact band, what, with the boom-boom-bap and all of that. All I have to say, however, is that Sanka makes me poo-poo and Joke O Vick should NOT have double (figgity) faulted if he wanted to win the blessed event, now should he? No. And then all y'all will be saying Godfrey Veal has done it again like a deuce!
I also feel compelled to remind you that it DOES take two to make a thing go right. (boom-bap), and it takes two to make it out of sight. (blam-pin). Who in the heavens is this Godfrey Veal I keep hearing about anyway? All he do is type about the words and whatnot.
Nadal was such a hypocritical punk for what he did yesterday. He's played in much worse conditions and not complained at alll....because he was winning. But when Djokovic got on a rolll....Nadal threw a hissy fit about having to play in such weather. He disgusts me. He's a great player, but he's lousy sport and a horrible ambassador for the sporrt.
zivo– do you have any idea how slick & dangerous a clay court is when it gets wet? And Roland Garros seems to turn in a heartbeat. Would you rather they had continued to play on a wet slick sub-par court & injured one, or both, of them?
No Pedro. Tennis will continue to be illegal in ALL seven states.
This was the best tennis I have seen in a long time. And the best man won. Go Rafa! Unlike the women's match. Can't stand to listen to or watch Sharapova and the match was so uneven.
I thought yesterday when the match was delayed by rain that it would favor Nadal. He seemed to tire and become less aggressive as the match wore on and Djokovic had him on the ropes with those eight straight game wins. The night's rest allowed him to come back fresher and stronger this morning.