Europe's news in English

COPY LINK

TENNIS

Wawrinka crushed by Nadal in French Open final

Rafael Nadal coasted to a record tenth French Open title on Sunday, demolishing Stan Wawrinka in a brutally one-sided final which also earned the Spaniard a 15th Grand Slam crown.

Published: 11 June 2017 18:53 CEST

Wawrinka crushed by Nadal in French Open final

Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP

Nadal, 31, triumphed 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to become the first man in history to win the same major ten times.

His collection of Slams now stands just three behind great rival Roger Federer, a staggering statistic coming just a year after he quit Roland Garros with a wrist injury.

Playing in his 22nd Grand Slam final, Nadal triumphed in Paris without dropping a set for a third time.

He also lost just 35 games in total and only six in the final, his most comprehensive victory since allowing Roger Federer four games in the 2008 final.

“It's really incredible. To win La Decima is very, very special,” said Nadal.

“I am very emotional. The feeling I have is impossible to describe.

“It's difficult to compare with other tournaments but the nerves and adrenaline I feel, it's like no other place.”

Nadal was joined on the presentation by his uncle Toni, his coach since boyhood, who is stepping down at the end of the year.

“Without my uncle I would not have won ten trophies,” said Nadal who will rise to two in the world rankings on Monday.

“For me to be here for many years is difficult to describe. I come back and see people I have a good relationship with and it's very special.

“It's difficult for me to compare this to any other event. You are always going to be in my heart.”

'Rafa, just too good'

Swiss star Wawrinka, bidding for a fourth Grand Slam title, hailed Nadal as an opponent and sportsman.

“It's not what we dreamed of…It's been two incredible weeks in Paris, but today a bit more dfficult.

“There is nothing to say about today, you were too good,” he admitted.

“What you are doing in tennis is unbelievable.

“It's always been an honour to play against you, two Grand Slam finals now, congratulations to you for your career and your team.”

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.

Become a Member to leave a comment.

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?

Is it the end of the line for Roger? Photo: Martin BUREAU / AFP

The 20-time Grand Slam winner announced on Wednesday that he would be sidelined until 2021 after his second operation in a matter of months.

Federer remains upbeat, tweeting: “I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 percent ready to play at my highest level.”

In some ways 2020 is a good season to miss after the coronavirus ravaged the tennis schedule. Writing Federer off in the past has proved dangerous.

He returned from a six-month injury lay-off to claim the Australian Open in 2017, winning his eighth Wimbledon crown later that year.

But he will be 40 in 2021 and is now heading into uncharted territory.

Despite his groaning trophy cabinet, there are two factors that will motivate Federer to keep going — the risk of losing his grip on the men's Grand Slam title record and a missing Olympics singles gold medal.

Rafael Nadal has 19 majors, just one shy of Federer's mark and Djokovic has 17.

Spain's Nadal will be fancied to draw level with Federer at the French Open, rescheduled for September, while few would bet against Djokovic winning in New York weeks earlier.

In April, Federer said he was “devastated” when Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. Last year he fell agonisingly short at the All England Club, failing to convert two championship points on his own serve against Djokovic.

The Wimbledon grass probably remains his best chance of adding to his Grand Slam collection — he has not won the US Open since 2008 and his only title at Roland Garros came in 2009.

Even though Federer has slipped from the very pinnacle of the game, he is still a major threat to Nadal and Djokovic.

'Golden' ambitions

Last year, the world number four had a 53-10 win-loss record and he reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open in January in his only tournament this year.

Federer, who is still six ATP titles short of Jimmy Connors' all-time record of 109, has one glaring omission from his CV — the Olympic title.

The Swiss won doubles gold in Beijing in 2008 with compatriot Stan Wawrinka but lost in the singles final to Andy Murray in London four years later.

The postponed Tokyo Games will almost certainly be Federer's last opportunity to complete a career “golden” Grand Slam — he will turn 40 on the day of the closing ceremony next year.

Tennis will feel the loss of the elegant Federer keenly when he walks off the court for the last time.

Djokovic and Nadal have been the dominant forces in recent years but the Swiss remains the biggest draw and last month topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-earning athletes.

His last appearance on court was in front of nearly 52,000 fans — touted by organisers as a world record for tennis — at a charity match against Nadal in Cape Town in February.

Federer is nearly always the crowd favourite wherever he plays and has proved a perfect ambassador for the sport since he won his first Grand Slam title in 2003.

He certainly expects to be back and competitive next year.

“I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season,” he tweeted.

The avalanche of support from his adoring fans showed they would miss him too, but they will have to get used to a time when he is gone for good.

Url copied to clipboard!