Rafael Nadal has completed the fairytale, winning his tenth French Open crown without dropping a set as he recorded a triumphant victory over Stan Wawrinka in the final.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Stan Wawrinka 2 3 1
Rafael Nadal 6 6 6
Rafael Nadal will look to complete a triumphant clay court season and take out a tenth French Open crown when he takes on fellow former champion, the cagey Stan Wawrinka. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11pm (AEST).
Nadal has been incredible throughout the Open. He is still yet to drop a set, and turned it on in the third set of his semi-final, playing possibly his best tennis of the tournament yet.
Wawrinka was playing a similarly high level of tennis, and hadn’t dropped a set before the semi-final, but then ran into the world No.1 Andy Murray.
He had to fight his way out of a hole, going down 2 sets to 1 and looking out of it at the back end of the third, but he did. With his backhand firing on all cylinders, he took the fourth to a tie-breaker and then mentally broke Murray in half.
After more than four hours on court, the fifth got underway and it was never an even contest as Wawrinka narrowly missed winning 6-0, taking it 6-1 instead.
Still, spending four and half hours on court, no matter how much he fights and is mentally strong will hurt Wawrinka.
Nadal hasn’t spent more than two hours on court in any match this tournament, and has a staggering record of 100-2 in five set matches on clay.
It’s unrivalled by any player on any surface, and he put Dominic Thiem to the sword in a way no one thought was possible in the semi-final.
If Nadal can defend Wawrinka’s backhand confidently for the duration of the match and hold his own serve strongly, then there is no reason he won’t breeze through in under two hours ago.
But, the final deserves more than that. Nadal is going for a staggering tenth crown at Roland Garros, Wawrinka a second, but if Wawrinka gets off to a fast start this match will be more even than many think.
Nadal was a little slow out of the blocks against Thiem in the semi-final, showing his first sign of any weakness – albeit a small one – during the tournament.
He was broken in the opening game of the match and struggled to gain the ascendancy, but against the experienced Wawrinka, the question have to be asked if he would be able to bounce back so strongly.
Past form says he would though, with Nadal winning 16 of their previous 19 matches. That includes five of six on clay – but, it should be noted that in their only ever meeting at a grand slam final – the 2014 Australian Open, Wawrinka came away victorious.
Does that play a factor here? Only time will tell, but the history is still stacked against him.
Prediction
Wawrinka is a former champion here, but Nadal is in incredible form. You have to question whether he will drop a set. Wawrinka will go down swinging whichever way you look at it.
Nadal in four sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the 2017 French Open final from 11pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report Well that'll do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 French Open as Rafael Nadal won his tenth French Open. I hope you have enjoyed the call. With that being the end of the French Open, I need to give a few thankyous - to our awesome live sport organiser, Josh Elliott - thanks for having all the blogs and scores scheduled and ready to go. I also need to thank Tim Miller, who covered the women's final last night. The Roar will be back in just a few short weeks for Wimbledon! We will have it covered with scores and blogs and I can't wait! Until next time, it's bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
And now for Nadal - after a short film that celebrates his ten titles. We get to see his ten separate victory moments, as well as the shot of today's match one more time, that forehand from outside the court that he wrapped back around the net post, as well as the match point. "Stan - congratulations for an amazing last couple of years and these two weeks. Sorry about today." "It's difficult to talk today, but the only thing I can say is thank you. Thank you to all the organisers, ball boys, officials." "For me, I love coming back here. I can't compare this tournament with another one." "Thanks to my friend, my family, my team. This final means a lot to me."
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wawrinka on the mic now. "I would like to congratulate Rafa. It's always been an honour for me to play against you - second time in a grand slam final." He then thanks his team and tells them to keep pushing, thanks the crowd and officials.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Spanish national anthem now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Stan Wawrinka greeted with a huge roar from the crowd as he takes the podium. He and Nadal are two of the most liked players in tennis, and the crowd wanted to see more today. Nadal up on the podium to receive his trophy now as well. The tenth of his incredible career.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Pascal Maris presented with his award for umpiring the final first.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah absolutely Johnno Tell you what, I wouldn't be writing Federer out of Wimbledon yet. Thanks for joining the call!
Johnno
Guest
chris evert in the women's won 7 french. but 10 is like WOW factor overload.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roy Emerson to present the winner's trophy.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Presentation getting underway now.
Johnno
Guest
Great moment in sport this is huge moment in last 50 years in sport, 10 GS at same tournament, wow. And Fed in january, blessed these 2 legends are still going.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal being interviewed on the side of the court. He is showing a bit of emotion, and even though it's number 10, you can tell just how much this means to him. It's not the time to discuss it, but he could do number 11 next year if his fitness holds up. There's just no stopping Nadal on clay.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Presentation will be underway in just a moment.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
He is simply the best. Every single point he makes you work so, so hard. No one has even been close to him at the French this year. No worries Riley. Hope you enjoyed it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, Nadal has gone through the French Open without dropping a single set, and he has only spent a tick over two hours on court in the semi-final and final. Amazing. Trophy currently being engraved. Could have started that about half an hour ago though.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Wow! Just wow! What a brilliant athlete Rafa is, very deserving tournament win. 10 French Open tiles, amazing. Thanks for the call Scott.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, CHAMPIONSHIP! RAFAEL NADAL This is incredible. What a performance. Absolute domination from Nadal. Just a tick over two hours, and that point sums up the match. Defence to keep him in it before an aggressive forehand, and Wawrinka slices a half volley backhand into the net. Nadal is champion at Roland Garros for the tenth time. Amazing. He is truly the king of clay. Stan Wawrinka 2 3 1 Rafael Nadal 6 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault, then Nadal returns with plenty of depth. Wawrinka puts a forehand away down the line and Nadal gets there, but can't swing it back in. Out. Wawrinka 2 3 1 - 30 Nadal 6 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Championship point coming up! Wawrinka is actually not doing a whole lot wrong here, but Nadal works him around the court once again. Wawrinka 2 3 1 - 15 Nadal 6 6 5 - 40