By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
In an extremely one-sided drama-free final in front of barely a thousand fans in an empty and cavernous Chatrier Stadium in Paris, Rafael Nadal made history.
He pummeled world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to win his unfathomable 13th French Open singles title to Roger Federer for the all-time lead in men’s major singles title won with 20.
The match win over Djokovic was his symbolic 100th match win at Roland Garros, against only two losses – to Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009 and to Djokovic in the quarterfinals in 2015.
“I don’t think today about the 20th and of equaling Roger on this great number,” Nadal said to Fabrice Santoro in the post-match on-court interview. “For me today, it is a Roland Garros victory. Roland Garros means everything to me. Just to play here is a true inspiration. The love story that I have with this city and with this court is unforgettable.”
As the tennis world resumed competition during the global COVID-19 pandemic, Nadal chose not defend his U.S. Open title on hard courts in September, choosing to save his energy for the clay at the French Championships, which was rescheduled from the spring to start only two weeks after the conclusion of play in New York. Nadal only played three matches in his first matches since the shutdown in early March at the Italian Championships in Rome two weeks before Roland Garros began, losing to Diego Schwartzman. However, Nadal was as devastating as he ever was at Roland Garros, winning the championship without losing a set for a third time. This despite, the different climate in Paris, with cooler temperatures in the 50s, a different sun angle over the Roland Garros complex and also a heavier new Wilson balls, from the lighter Babolat balls. For the first time ever at Roland Garros, this final was played under the new covered roof due to early rain showers that moved over Paris just before the start of the final.
Djokovic was himself going for a slice of history, not only looking to encroach on Federer and Nadal on the all-time list with his 18th major singles title but also trying to become the first male player to win all four major singles titles twice. Djokovic won his only French title in 2016. Federer has also only won at Roland Garros once – in 2009 that gave him a career Grand Slam and his record-tying 14th major singles title (tying him with Pete Sampras). Nadal has only won the Australian Open once, in 2009.
