>> 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.
>> 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. 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.
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