Nadal, a 9-time French open winner
Rafael Nadal beats the heat and Novak Djokovic to win his 9th French Open title and 14th career major.
Rafael Nadal beats the heat and Novak Djokovic to win his 9th French Open title and 14th career major.
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Spain's winner Rafael Nadal (R) poses with the Musketeers trophy next to Serbia's Novak Djokovic (L) holding the runner-up trophy, French Tennis Federation (FFT) president Jean Gachassin (2nd L) and Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg after the French tennis Open men's final match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 8, 2014. AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL MEDINA
Nadal wins ninth French Open, 14th major
Rafael Nadal clinched his ninth French Open and 14th career Grand Slam title on Sunday with a brutal 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victory over a battling Novak Djokovic.
The world number one also became the first man to win five Roland Garros crowns in succession as the 28-year-old took his record at the tournament to 66 wins against just one defeat.
His tally of 14 majors equals the mark of Pete Sampras and puts him just three behind the all-time record of Roger Federer who is almost five years older.
Spain's Rafael Nadal hits a return to Serbia's Novak Djokovic. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD
Defeat was cruel for world number two Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, who still needs a French Open title to become just the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam.
"Every moment was crucial, all the points were so hard," said Nadal.
"Playing against Novak is always a big challenge, I have lost to him the last four times.
Every chance I have to beat him it's because I have had to play to my limit. I feel sorry for Novak. He deserves to win this tournament one day and I am sure he will."
He added: "It's an amazing, emotional moment for me. I lost the Australian Open final this year when I had a problem with my back. Today tennis has given me back what happened in Australia."
Serbia's Novak Djokovic stretches for a point.
The Serb dominated the early stages of Sunday's final, the pair's 42nd meeting, seemingly immune to the sweltering 30-degree heat on Philippe Chatrier court.
But Nadal, playing in his 20th Grand Slam final to Djokovic's 13th, grew stronger as the final wore on as he ended a four-match losing streak against his old rival.
The 3hr 31min duel ended on a sour note when Djokovic double-faulted on match point, shaken by a shout from the crowd.
"Congratulations to Rafa. To win the French Open nine times is incredible," said Djokovic.
"There's a lot of emotions for me. I gave my maximum with all my strength and force but Rafa was better on the court.
"But I will keep coming back and coming back and try to win it at least once." AFP
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