By Randy Walker
Rafael Nadal staved off history while making some of his own.
The Spaniard won his record seventh French Open singles title Monday, completing a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 rain-suspended men’s final victory over Novak Djokovic, preventing his Serbian opponent from becoming the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 – and only the third man ever – to hold all four major singles title at one time.
Nadal’s victory moved him past Bjorn Borg, who won sixth French Open titles from 1974 to 1981, to become the all-time men’s singles title holder in Paris.
The victory was also Nadal’s 11th major singles victory, tying him with Laver and Borg for fourth all-time among men. Only Roger Federer (16), Pete Sampras (14) and Roy Emerson (12) have won more major men’s singles titles.
“This tournament is, for me, the most special tournament of the world,” Nadal said.
The match was suspended by rain and darkness Sunday night with Nadal leading two-sets to one, and down a service break 1-2 in the fourth set. Djokovic had won eight games in a row from 0-2 down in the third set, benefitting from the wet and slow conditions that troubled Nadal.
Nadal started play on Monday by breaking Djokovic’s serve to square the fourth set at 2-2, then broke the Serbian again in the 12th game of the set to close out the match, Djokovic double-faulting on match point.
“I was really very nervous last night. It was difficult for me. It was heavy and Novak started to play unbelievable,” Nadal said to John McEnroe on NBC after the match. “The conditions (last night) were very negative for me. I felt like he was pushing me back. He was always in attack position.”
Djokovic, a first-time finalist at Roland Garros, had defeated Nadal in the finals of the Wimbledon and the US Open last year and earlier this year an epic Australian Open final and was looking to join Laver, who won two Grand Slams in 1962 and 1969, and Don Budge, who won the first Grand Slam in 1938, as the only men to hold all four major singles titles at one time.
“I am disappointed that I lost of course. I thought I could get this match into the fifth set,” said Djokovic post-match to McEnroe. “Today I still played well, but he was better in the deciding moments.”
“I don’t need to be disappointed,” Djokovic said to McEnroe. “This is the best result I ever had at Roland Garros. There are many more majors to come.”
Nadal entered the final having not lost a set in his previous six matches. Djokovic, the world No. 1, struggled to reach his first final in Paris, coming back from two-sets-to-love to beat Andreas Seppi in the fourth round and saving four match points in another five-setter in the quarterfinals against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. With the victory, Djokovic also would have joined Budge, Laver, Nadal, Emerson, Federer, Andre Agassi and Fred Perry as only the eighth man ever to win all four major singles titles in a career.
Said Nadal on winning his 11th major title, tying Borg and Laver: “I am very happy for what is happening over the last few years.”
Nadal and Djokovic’s epic Australian Open final in January – won by Djokovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in five hours, 53 minutes – is regarded as one of the greatest matches ever played, and named as such in the new book by Steve Flink “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” – released this week and available here:http://www.amazon.com/The-